The Anaheim Ducks re-signed captain Ryan Getzlaf to an eight-year, $66 million contract on Friday, keeping the playmaking center with his only NHL team through the 2020-21 season.

Getzlaf would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer along with Corey Perry, the former NHL MVP and his longtime teammate.

The 27-year-old Getzlaf has 499 points in 534 games with Anaheim, establishing himself as one of the NHL's top playmakers and the third-leading scorer in Ducks history. He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 and became Anaheim's captain in 2010.

"This is a wonderful day for my family, as Anaheim has become our home," said Getzlaf, a native of Saskatchewan. "The fans here have treated me very well, and I look forward to being part of a winning hockey team and contributing to the Orange County community for years to come."

After struggling last year to his lowest-scoring performance in a full NHL season, Getzlaf is in the midst of an outstanding year for the Ducks (16-3-3), who have the NHL's second-best record behind Chicago.

Getzlaf has nine goals and 18 assists with a plus-10 rating in just 22 games this season, tying with Chicago's Patrick Kane for the Western Conference scoring lead.

Perry hasn't yet re-signed with Anaheim, and has seemed more interested than Getzlaf in exploring free agency. The gold medal-winning Canadian Olympians have spent their entire careers with Anaheim, which drafted them together in the first round in 2003.

Ducks general manager Bob Murray has been eager to re-sign both Getzlaf and Perry, even though Anaheim has won just one playoff round in the five seasons since the franchise's only Stanley Cup title. After several years of slow starts, the duo has justified Murray's faith in them this season with strong play, leading the Ducks to a significant lead in the Pacific Division near the midway point of the lockout-shortened season.

"We are very happy to have Ryan committed to this franchise long-term," Murray said. "He has often expressed his interest to stay in Anaheim for his entire career, a goal we share. He is a leader, a proven winner, and possesses a skill set that's hard to find. This is a great day for the Ducks."