Ryan Getzlaf to retire after 17 seasons with Ducks

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Ryan Getzlaf didn't want to wait until his body broke down or his willpower waned. The Anaheim Ducks' longtime captain also wanted to start the next chapter of his life on his own schedule.

With his parents, his wife and their four children by his side, Getzlaf felt confident he's finally ready to glide into life after the NHL.

"I've always said I was going to let my body and mind dictate when I was going to retire," the 36-year-old Getzlaf said Tuesday while announcing his decision to retire at the conclusion of the season after a 17-year career spent entirely with the Ducks.

"I remember talking to my buddies when I first came in the league, and I thought that was going to be at about 26," he added with a laugh. "Definitely over-lasted what I thought I would. The grind of the everyday, getting up, the preparation for each season, gets harder and harder as you get older."

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Getzlaf teared up several times during a news conference at Honda Center attended by dozens of his friends, family members and both current and former teammates. Getzlaf wasn't surprised to see his wife, Paige, but was shocked to see his parents and children, who kept their attendance a secret.

"I’ve created an atmosphere around me of support, a loving family that I’d like to go home to," Getzlaf said. "Kids that I’d like to grow up playing with, not watching play. That was a (reason) for me to step away from the game before those things happen."

Getzlaf has been one of the top playmaking centers in hockey for most of his career, scoring 1,013 points in 1,150 games since his NHL debut in October 2005 with the then-Mighty