Fowler joined the "NHL @TheRink" podcast Wednesday to discuss the Ducks' hot start, including their eight-game winning streak that put them in first place in the Pacific Division; forward Troy Terry's 15-game point streak; and 36-year-old captain Ryan Getzlaf's youthful-looking resurgence.
"I think first and foremost we have a team that really cares about one another," Fowler said. "We have a great kind of blend of veteran leadership with guys that have been around here for a long time mixed in with a lot of youth, guys that bring a lot of energy to the rink and also bring a lot of skill.
"So we feel like we have a good blend of players that we really get along. Also, the coaching staff that's come in this year has done an amazing job for us. We feel like we're prepared and we're ready to play."
Fowler said Getzlaf's play and demeanor this season is an example of what he's talking about.
Getzlaf has scored 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) in 17 games. His assist on Fowler's first-period goal in a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday was his 1,000th NHL point in his 1,118th game with the Ducks.
"There is a lot that these young players can learn from 'Getz', and any time he says something they certainly listen," Fowler said. "But the flip side of that is they give him some energy. They give him some entertainment at the rink. The banter in the locker room, that's something that 'Getzy' has always loved and I know something that he's going to miss dearly when he's done playing. The energy and charisma of some of those younger players has given Getz a little extra step."
The podcast continued with a Southern California theme after Fowler's interview because co-hosts Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke also talked to former Ducks forward Emerson Etem, who was selected by Anaheim with the No. 29 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Etem's playing career was limited because of a knee injury, but he is embarking on a coaching career as the owner and coach of the Long Beach Shredders in the United States Premier Hockey League, a Tier 3 junior league. Etem is from Long Beach, California.
Rosen and Roarke also gave their take on the Ducks and why they're rolling now, along with thoughts on the candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022, the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders.
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