Ryan Getzlaf stays home; re-signs with Ducks for one more year
The Daily Goal Horn
|
This is where he always wanted to be. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf is remaining in Anaheim, agreeing Wednesday to a one-year contract.
The Orange County Register and The Athletic reported that the deal is worth $4.5 million.
The Ducks’ all-time leader in games played (1,101) and assists (703), Getzlaf has spent his entire 16-year career with the franchise.
New experience for Ryan Getzlaf
The center told reporters regarding his brief free agency period, “I’ve just never gone through it. I’ve never had other teams pursuing me. It was a great feeling. I’m not going to lie.
“This was a unique opportunity and a unique experience for me, and something I hadn’t been through my whole career, so it was a fun day. I learned a lot of things today and ultimately ended up exactly where I wanted to be.”
Getzlaf added, “When I talked about possibly moving somewhere, possibly uprooting my family, leaving my Ducks family behind, it was a scary thought. There was a lot that went into it and a lot of discussions over the last few days me and my wife had.
“Ultimately, we worked through it … and just so grateful for the opportunity to be back again.”
Ducks re-sign Getzlaf
Ducks executive vice president/general manager Bob Murray said in a statement, “It was always our intention to sign Ryan, and we are thrilled he chose to stay. His loyalty to this franchise is unique in pro sports, and it is our hope he remains a Duck for his entire career.”
Getzlaf, 36, will enter 2021-22 six points shy of tying Teemu Selanne (988) for Anaheim’s all-time points record and 18 points from becoming the first player in Ducks history to record 1,000 points.
Getzlaf has 279 career goals, a total that ranks fourth in Ducks history. He had five goals and 17 assists in 48 regular-season games last season.
The 19th overall pick of the 2003 draft, Getzlaf won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 and gold medals with Canada at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. He has captained Anaheim since 2010-11.
–Field Level Media