Ryan Getzlaf's No. 15 Headed to the Rafters: Anaheim Ducks to Retire Longtime Captain's Jersey

When Anaheim Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli placed a video call to Ryan Getzlaf, it marked a historic milestone for the franchise. The team announced that Getzlaf's No. 15 will be raised to the rafters, making the 41-year-old former forward just the fourth player in organization history to receive the honor alongside Teemu Selanne (No. 8), Paul Kariya (No. 9), and Scott Niedermayer (No. 27).

We have jerseys raised in the rafters and we thought the time has come to expand that list of three names, Henry Samueli told Getzlaf during the call. We want to retire your jersey this season and hang it from the ceiling. We look at everything you've done for this organization. You spent your entire career here. Leading scorer. You lead in everything, and with everything you'done in the community with your charitable work, you are a pillar of this organization.

Getzlaf, who retired following the 2021-22 season after spending all 17 of his NHL campaigns in Anaheim—including 12 seasons as team captain—expressed deep gratitude for the recognition.

I appreciate it so much. It's an incredible honor to be up there alongside those three, Getzlaf said. I'm extremely grateful for it.

An Unmatched Franchise Benchmark

Selected 10th overall by Anaheim in the 2003 NHL Draft, the Regina native left an indelible mark on the organization's record book over 1,157 regular-season games. Getzlaf stands as the franchise's all-time leader in games played, total points (1,019), and assists (737). His footprint across secondary statistical categories further illustrates his complete impact on the ice, ranking second in power-play points (341), third in game-winning goals (57), and fourth in total goals scored (282).

Playoff Legacy and Hardware

Getzlaf's production reached even higher peaks during postseason play, where he sweeps every major offensive category in Anaheim playoff history. Over 125 playoff appearances, he generated 37 goals, 83 assists, and 120 points—all franchise records.

After helping lead Anaheim to a Stanley Cup championship in 2007, Getzlaf established himself as one of the NHL's premier players. A three-time NHL All-Star selection (2008, 2009, 2015), his highest individual campaign came in 2014. That year, he earned NHL Second All-Star Team honors after recording 87 points (31 goals, 56 assists) and finished second in Hart Memorial Trophy voting behind Sidney Crosby.

International Gold and Post-Retirement Roles

On the international stage representing Canada, Getzlaf assembled a gold-medal resume spanning every major competition level. He won gold at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, back-to-back Olympic Winter Games in 2010 and 2014, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Following his playing career, Getzlaf transitioned into executive and administrative roles across the hockey world. He served on Hockey Canada's management team for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the 2025 IIHF World Championship, and Canada's Olympic contingent last February. Additionally, Getzlaf has worked within the NHL Department of Player Safety since 2024.

By elevating No. 15 alongside Selanne, Kariya, and Niedermayer, the Ducks solidify Getzlaf's permanent place in Orange County hockey history.