The Edmonton Oilers are facing a critical juncture as they look to manage their salary cap and potentially make trades amid concerns that their championship aspirations may be fading.
Cody Ceci has emerged as a prime trade candidate due to several factors, despite his status as a fringe top-pairing defenseman. His tenure with the Oilers has been marked by instability, having played for three different teams in the last five seasons before settling in Edmonton in 2021. Known more for his defensive reliability than offensive prowess, Ceci reached a career-high of 28 points in the 2021-2022 NHL season.
Throughout his time with the Oilers, Ceci has been paired with Philip Broberg, Darnell Nurse, and Brett Kulak. His partnership with Broberg has been the most successful, boasting an expected goals percentage (xG%) of 54.5%. In contrast, he struggled significantly alongside Kulak and Nurse, and when playing solo, his xG% dropped to 48.2%, ranking as the second-worst among Edmonton defensemen.
Despite these fluctuations in performance, Ceci has attracted considerable interest on the trade market. Should the New York Rangers decide to part ways with Jacob Trouba, they could potentially target Ceci, drawn to his role as a reliable defenseman capable of logging around 20 minutes per game with a manageable salary cap hit.
Moreover, Ceci could serve as a mentor to younger players like Zac Jones while shouldering significant ice time and providing stability to the team’s defensive core. The Oilers face a pivotal decision regarding Ceci’s future, weighing potential trade value against the need to create cap space. In scenarios where trade interest is limited, Edmonton may find themselves needing to incentivize the move by offering additional assets or salary retention.
Conversely, if multiple teams express interest in Ceci’s services, the Oilers could reasonably expect to acquire a second or third-round draft pick in return. Much hinges on the assessment and negotiation skills of Oilers’ management, particularly General Manager Jeff Jackson, who must navigate Ceci’s mixed performance history and playoff struggles while assessing his overall value to the team.
Despite Ceci’s challenges in certain aspects of his game, he has undeniably contributed value to the Oilers during his tenure. His defensive reliability and experience are qualities that could potentially benefit a team seeking defensive depth and stability heading into the upcoming NHL season. As Edmonton navigates the complexities of managing its roster and salary cap, Ceci’s future remains a focal point in their efforts to optimize their roster composition for sustained competitiveness in the league.
