The next chapter of Ryan Getzlaf's life began when he joined the NHL's player safety department. His robust style of game as a player should help him now, says Adam Proteau.
Ryan Getzlaf and referee Chris LeeWhen an NHLer’s playing career is over, it’s difficult for some of them to find a thrill similar to the one they had competing on the ice.
Some become coaches or management members. But a notable number of them work for the NHL – either as supervisors or as part of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
In the latter group, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Pronger and Stephane Quintal are just some examples of ex-players who worked in the player safety department. But Wednesday afternoon, NHL Player Safety added a new member to its team – longtime Anaheim Ducks star center Ryan Getzlaf.
The 39-year-old Getlaf has served as player development co-ordinator for the Ducks for 14 months after retiring at the end of the 2021-22 regular season.
His experience at the highest level – with 1,157 regular-season games played and 125 Stanley Cup playoff games played – will serve him well. He was only suspended once in the NHL, although it was for using a homophobic slur during a playoff game.
Current senior vice-president of player safety George Parros raved about adding him to his staff.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan as the newest member of our department," Parros said in a press release Wednesday. "His accomplishments on the ice speak for themselves: he won at every level and was widely respected for being a hard-nosed and highly-skilled player and effective leader.
“From his rookie NHL season in 2005 until his recent retirement, he lived and played through many of the changes our game has seen, which will provide our group with unique and valuable perspective moving forward.”
Getzlaf’s veteran perspective should go a long way toward making the player safety department more reputable. Right or wrong, players want to be judged by their peers, and Getzlaf’s 17 years in hockey’s top league and robust playing style will carry great respect when players are subject to supplemental discipline.
It’s important that the player safety department has players of all ilks – Parros was an enforcer who rarely contributed on offense – and Getzlaf’s aura as a legitimate high-end player will carry a different type of respect than his new co-workers have.
Getzlaf is a Cup-winner and was named to the NHL’s second all-star team in 2014, making him one of the more accomplished players of his era.
He’ll now face scrutiny as a decision-maker, although it should be said that no member of the player safety department other than Parros is called onto the carpet when players, media and fans disagree with a decision they make. Getzlaf is now part of a brand new team, and his informed perspective will only help Parros and Co. make decisions that are as fair as possible.
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