He knows what it feels like to hoist all 34 1/2 pounds of the Stanley Cup. It's been a long time since he reached the pinnacle of the sport, and so much has changed.
When the Ducks won it all in 2007, Getzlaf was in his second year in the NHL. In the years that followed, Getzlaf established himself as one of the best playmakers in the league and grew into the leader of one of hockey's most consistent teams.
"This is the best time of the year to be playing," said Getzlaf, whose Ducks have missed the playoffs just twice during his 13 seasons with the team.