The 36-year-old has scored 282 goals in 17 seasons, all with the Ducks, and is their leader in points with 1,013 points. He has 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) in 49 games this season.
"I've kind of always said that I was going to let my body and mind kind of dictate when I was going to retire," Getzlaf said. "I remember talking to buddies when I first came into the League, I thought that was going to be at about 26, so I definitely overlasted what I thought I would. But that was always the mindset. The grind of the everyday, getting up, the preparation for each season gets harder and harder as you get older.
"I've created an atmosphere around me of support, a loving family that I'd like to go home to, kids that I'd like to grow up playing with, not watching play, and that was kind of a thing for me, to step away from the game before those kind of things happen, where I'm unable to do some of that stuff."
Getzlaf's NHL career likely will end when the Ducks (28-31-12) play their final home game against the St. Louis Blues on April 24; he said he would not play in their final two road games. Anaheim is 14 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
The No. 19 pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, Getzlaf is first in Ducks history in games played (1,150), assists (731), overtime goals (11) and power-play assists (254). He is their postseason leader in goals (37), assists (83) and points (120), and had 17 (seven goals 10 assists) in 21 games when Anaheim won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
"I've always had a sense of loyalty to this organization, as they've shown to me," Getzlaf said. "So that's always been a big part of my decision making (in staying in Anaheim). Any contract talks, any future talks have always landed here. The last couple of years were the first years that any of those conversations even came up. To tell you the honest truth, last year's (NHL) Trade Deadline was the hardest two days of my life. Me and (wife) Paige stayed up long nights talking about it, and ultimately the decision to stay here was based on the loyalty this organization has shown over the years, and it just didn't feel right to go anywhere."
Getzlaf was named Ducks captain Oct. 4, 2010. He is one of 12 players in NHL history to be captain of the same team for 10 years and get 1,000 points with that team.
"Thank you to our owners, Henry and Susan Samueli, for leading an organization committed to success on the ice, but more importantly, to making a positive impact in our community and to those in need," Getzlaf said. "A special thanks to the general managers, coaches, support staff, teammates, and of course, our fans. Playing for the Ducks and living in Orange County is a dream for an athlete, and much of that is because of you. Thank you all."
Getzlaf is also one of 13 players in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals. He won gold with Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics.
"We are so proud of everything Ryan has accomplished in an amazing 17 years playing for the Ducks," Henry and Susan Samueli said. "While we will all remember his leadership qualities on the ice, it is his community-first approach that has cemented his legacy in Orange County. In addition to spearheading the Ducks Learn to Play Program and numerous other organizational charitable initiatives, he launched his own such event with the Annual Getzlaf Shootout to benefit CureDuchenne, raising over $4.27 million to date.
"Congratulations, Ryan. You've been our leader, our soul and our captain, leaving an indelible mark on our franchise that Ducks fans around the world will never forget."
