Everything that's been discussed about Ryan Getzlaf over the past few days has to do with the war of words he engaged in with Alex Ovechkin following the Ducks loss to Washington.

What hasn't been discussed quite as much this season is Anaheim's captain continued steady contribution to his hockey club. Despite the team being in a slump (4-5-1 in the last 10), they remain at the top of the Pacific Division with a 10-point lead over the tied Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. Much of this success can be attributed to Getzlaf's consistent point-per-game pace (17-37=54, 54 GP) this season.

I had the opportunity to chat with Captain Duck after the team took part in the 13th annual First Flight field trip for local elementary school students. The event combined science, hockey, and ear-piercing screeching from 16,000 kids at Honda Center.

Once our ears stopped ringing, we had a fun conversation.

Enjoy!

Q. I talked to Bruce on Sunday [after the loss to Washington] about you. I asked him what his impressions of you were when he first got here. He said you were more of a “secondary leader” when he got here. Did you feel that way? [Author's note: Getzlaf was named captain in 2010 under Randy Carlyle; Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne wore the A's until they retired]

RYAN GETZLAF: [Pause] Ahh, hmm. It’s hard to say. I mean, I didn’t feel that way necessarily when he came here. There were many years where I was a secondary leader; had to build into that role. At the same time, we still has some guys here that were around for a long time that we’d look to in certain situations.

He also says that this finally feels like your team. Do you feel that way, or does it go back to it’s always kind of felt like your team, buuuut…

[Laughs] I honestly, I’ve just been doing my own thing. I’ve been trying to build my career as I went, and when I arrived here I knew that I wanted to be a leader in this organization at some point. I had to wait my turn, and learn from some guys ahead of me. I feel like it’s there now.

The last thing he said was this team lives and dies by you. Not you and Corey Perry; it lives and dies by YOU. That’s A LOT of pressure, is it not?

[Smirks] Uh, a little bit. [Laughs] It’s welcomed, though. That’s what you want to be. You want to be the guy that everybody looks to in the locker room. Everybody looks to you to drive the bus, and that’s something I’ve kind of built over the years. I’d like to think it’s earned, and not really given, too.

Prior to the 2012 lockout, you had one of your career worst seasons. When we came back from the lockout, you had one of your best seasons. What changed in between that time?

I don’t know. That one year, a lot went on. I’ve said numerous times I had my first child at that time. I got married that summer. Uh, we moved.

[WE LAUGH]

There was a lot going on that I had to deal with from a personal standpoint, and learn to deal with as a professional. So that year was a big learning experience for me.

So when you got back on the ice, you just felt more comfortable?

I think when it came down to it, and it was time to play again, I was excited to get back on the ice. I was disappointed in myself in the year before, and what went on. And also the same thing, I learned about how to leave stuff at home. How to deal with having a child and not feeling like I’m skipping out on things. I went to the rink a lot happier.

A lot of fans don’t like you and Corey Perry.

[Laughs]

We know that Perry plays with an edge. But what about you? You seem like a nice guy.

[Silence then laughs]. I’d like to more fans dislike him [nods head towards Perry’s locker]. I get pooled in with him [smirks]. It’s just one of those things when you’re playing in different buildings, and you’re doing certain things, they tend to hate the opponent. That’s a good thing when you’re in their buildings and they don’t like you.

What do you think your career would be like if Corey Perry had never played a part in it?

Ohhhh, I’d probably have two Stanley Cups and …

It’s an interesting thing to think about. There were a lot of different situations where he wouldn’t have been here. So, we tried to trade him once…

I remember that. It was to Edmonton for Mike Comrie.

Yep! Things could have been a lot different.

Story continues