The Edmonton Oilers will have a market of teams interested in defenseman Cody Ceci, should they want to trade him away, per Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff on Bob Stauffer’s Oilers Now podcast. Seravalli added, “Right (shot) defensemen in that pay range are always in demand. Just go look at the pay range this summer and look at some of the money thrown around. Cody Ceci at that number is probably quite palatable.”
Ceci carries a $3.25MM cap hit through next season, before entering unrestricted free agency next summer, making him a manageable rental on a new team. But it’s hard to imagine Edmonton, who still carries $6.2MM in cap space, will be quick to move Ceci unless they need urgent relief. The 30-year-old defender held firm to his quant role in the middle of Edmonton’s lineup this year, posting five goals and 25 points through 79 regular season games. It was the second-most he’s scored int he last five seasons, though three points shy of his career-high. Nonetheless, Ceci provided the hard, two-line passing and general defensive stoutness to properly back Edmonton’s top lines, even if his performances with the Oilers have been far from exciting. On the open market, Ceci offers the presence of an 11-year vet with 88 career playoff games – just enough to warrant a cheap return.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Anaheim Ducks have hired former NHL forward Tony Hrkac as their Director of Professional Scouting, shares Derek Lee of The Hockey News. Hrkac has served as a pro scout with the Tampa Bay Lightning since the 2015-16 season, after serving in a variety of coaching roles in Wisconsin. He’ll now take the next step in his managerial career at an apt time, joining the team amid a Mighty Ducks rebrand having played in 140 games as a Mighty Duck during his own career.
- Dynamic Colorado Avalanche prospect Nikolai Kovalenko has returned to the United States for training after a brief vacation, shares Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now. That news should set Kovalenko up for a full run at the NHL lineup next season, after scoring three points in four AHL games and appearing in two Stanley Cup Playoff games at the end of the season. The 24-year-old became a highly acclaimed prospect with 54 points in 56 games during the 2022-23 KHL season – a performance he followed with 35 points in 42 games. He’ll now look to bring his dynamic scoring ability to the NHL, where fans should get a much clearer picture of his long-term upside.
Frank Seravalli is the worst. Why would Edmonton, a team with limited cap space to begin with, trade a right-handed defenceman with a good cap hit that is apparently so highly coveted? They don’t NEED cap space right now as he mentioned so what would their motivation be at this point? If anything they should be focused on extending Draisaitl. If they’re going to move a defenceman they should be exploring the possibility of moving Nurse but good luck with that cap hit of his.
What cap space??? They are over the cap by $354,167, and still need to sign Boberg, who I believe can play both sides and they have Carrick in the minors.
Agree and I think they have to resign Holloway as well. I question whether Ceci is actually coveted, I thought the Oil was trying to dump his salary last year. I recall he’s always been terrible at D at prior stops.
This leak seems to be the Oil trying to drum up demand more than anything else.
Oil leak then.
Ceci really struggled in his time in Ottawa and Toronto, but he basically revitalized his career during his time in Pittsburgh. I believe he was mostly solid in his first year in Edmonton, though his defensive lapses have become really apparent during these most recent playoffs.