Ryan Getzlaf joins the NHL's department of player safety

The NHL community had not heard much from the Anaheim Ducks legend since he retired in 2022, but news broke today that he would be joining the NHL's department of player safety.

Many believed that Getzlaf seemed poised to step into a front office role for an NHL franchise, but Getzlaf's former teammate, George Parros, is the head of the department, and has now hired his former teammate to help him out with NHL fines and suspensions, among other duties.

Getzlaf, 39, spent his entire 17 year NHL with the Anaheim Ducks, setting a myriad of franchise records and even winning a Stanley cup in 2007 after the Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators. Getzlaf is widely regarded as the best player in Ducks franchise history.

George Parros has come under heavy criticism over the past few seasons about how he has handled some suspensions and fines, with some feeling that he should be fired and replaced with someone new. Perhaps Parros is training Getzlaf to become his replacement one day.

No matter the reason for the hiring, it is great to see Getzlaf involved in the NHL once again.