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| Ryan GETZLAF (GEHTZ-laf, RIGH-uhn) |
Anaheim Ducks |
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Ducks show top scorer Getzlaf the money;
Young centre touted as next big star given five-year, $26.6-million US deal
Jim Matheson, The Edmonton Journal – November 21, 2007
EDMONTON – It's hard to fathom $5.325 million a season as a hometown discount, but Ryan Getzlaf likely left something on the table when he agreed to the Anaheim Ducks' five-year, $26.625-million US contract extension on Tuesday.
Getzlaf could have hit a booming home run next summer as the most attractive restricted free agent on the market, along with Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf. That is unless Alex Ovechkin doesn't like what the Washington Capitals are offering.
The 22-year-old forward could have dragged his feet and waited to see if somebody would have pitched him a better deal. The Edmonton Oilers, for instance, last summer offered Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres a seven-year, $50-million contract. Vanek listened, then signed with the Sabres.
Some NHL general manager would have shown Getzlaf big money because Oilers GM Kevin Lowe opened up that ketchup bottle when he signed forward Dustin Penner to a five-year, $4.25 million a season offer sheet last August.
Getzlaf, who leads the Ducks in scoring with 21 points, could have grabbed $7 million a season from a team with oodles of salary cap room and a desperate need for a young No. 1 centre. Like the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Although he's not silky smooth like Ottawa Senators star Jason Spezza, Getzlaf he has a good shot at making Canada's 2010 Olympic team. The six-foot-three, 215-pound centre has soft hands, a wicked shot that could be the hardest in the league and he can man the power play and kill penalties.
He's learned the definition of work and commitment by sitting next to Teemu Selanne in the Ducks dressing room.
"How good is he? He's just a baby now, but he can be the best player in the league," said Selanne.
"Ryan can be as good as he wants to be. He has the ability to do things that other guys won't even try, and do them at a high pace," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle.
Getzlaf opted to stay in Anaheim, happy to play for the Stanley Cup champs, living large with a huge raise over his current $623,000 salary. He has 46 goals and 72 assists in 158 NHL games.
Ducks GM Brian Burke read the tea leaves after Lowe's offer and knew he couldn't wait. He had his top lieutenant, David McNab, negotiate with local agent Gerry Johannson since training camp.
Burke saw what the Senators had to do to keep Spezza (giving him a $7-million-a-season average over seven years) and acted accordingly on Getzlaf, but on his terms. He proved last summer that he likes to talk money on his own agenda, not what another GM offers.
Burke didn't want to pay Penner the big bucks and let him walk.
Penner hasn't really earned the windfall he received from the Oilers. With just 10 points – including four goals --he hasn't found the same comfort level he had with Getzlaf and Corey Perry.
But Penner is getting into better shape and he played well on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
Penner's old Anaheim linemates, meanwhile, are doing just fine with new winger Chris Kunitz. Getzlaf and Perry are 1-2 in team scoring, and the threesome has become the Ducks' No. 1 line.
Johannson's partner Ritch Winter agreed that Getzlaf might have received a Group 2 offer sheet next summer similar to Vanek's, but said when the contract is over, "Getzlaf will be an unrestricted free agent and could still get $8 million or $9 million a year."
When this new deal ends, Getzlaf will still only be 27 and in his prime.
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