3 Potential trade landing spots for Oilers defenceman Cody Ceci

The Edmonton Oilers opened the July 1st free agent frenzy with a flurry of activity. CEO Jeff Jackson bolstered the team's top six by signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, adding significant firepower to an already potent lineup. In addition to these high-profile acquisitions, the Oilers managed to re-sign several key players, ensuring continuity and stability. Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, and Troy Stecher all inked new deals, reaffirming their commitment to the team and solidifying the Oilers' depth for the upcoming season.

While these signings significantly enhance the Oilers' roster, the team still faces the challenge of navigating the salary cap. With restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway yet to be signed, Edmonton must find a way to free up cap space to accommodate their new contracts. One potential casualty of this cap crunch is defenceman Cody Ceci who, as per Cap Friendly, carries a $3.25 million cap hit for next season.

Ceci's situation is a prime example of the tough decisions teams must make to remain compliant with the salary cap, while striving for competitiveness. The 30-year-old has been a steady presence on the Oilers' blue line, providing solid defensive play and contributing to the team's overall stability. However, with the need to sign Broberg and Holloway, and the recent influx of new talent, Ceci's contract becomes a potential target for salary shredding.

Potential trade destinations for Ceci include teams looking to bolster their defensive depth without taking on long-term commitments. Ceci's relatively manageable cap hit and his ability to play top-four minutes make him an attractive option for teams needing immediate defensive reinforcements.

As the Oilers continue to fine-tune their roster ahead of the new season, Ceci's future remains uncertain. Navigating the salary cap is a delicate balancing act, and the decision to potentially move Ceci underscores the complexities of managing a team in today's NHL. For the Oilers, the goal remains clear: build a roster capable of contending for the Stanley Cup while maintaining financial flexibility.

Back to where it all began

Defencemen are a highly coveted position in the NHL, and finding a top-end blue-liner is a challenging task. However, there are defencemen who, while not necessarily elite, can eat up significant minutes and provide valuable leadership in the locker room. These attributes make Ceci a potential asset for the relatively young core of the Ottawa Senators.

Drafted by the Senators 15th overall in 2012, Ceci is no stranger to Ottawa. His familiarity with the city and the team could smooth the transition if he were to return. While there would undoubtedly be some adjustments, Ceci's ability to log heavy minutes would be a significant boost for the Senators, who struggled with defensive consistency and keeping pucks out of their net last season.

Ceci's tenure with the Oilers has been marked by ups and downs, including notable lapses during playoff runs. Despite these shortcomings, he's demonstrated his capacity to provide leadership and stability on the back end. For a team like the Senators, which is working to develop its young talent and build a competitive roster, Ceci's experience and minutes-eating ability could be invaluable.

From the Oilers' perspective, trading Ceci would be a strategic move to free up the aforementioned $3.25 million in cap space. This financial flexibility would be crucial in re-signing restricted free agents Broberg and Holloway, both of whom are integral to the Oilers' future plans. Broberg, a promising young defenceman, and Holloway, a talented winger, represent key pieces of Edmonton's long-term strategy, and securing their services is a top priority.

A trade involving Ceci and the Senators makes sense for both parties. The Senators would gain a veteran defenceman capable of providing stability and leadership, while the Oilers would gain much-needed cap space to re-sign crucial young players.

Rebuilding team

There is no denying that the Oilers must find a way to shed some money to avoid going over the cap before the start of next season. Jackson will surely explore all options to secure cap relief, and trading Ceci is likely at the top of his agenda.

One potential trade partner for the Oilers is the San Jose Sharks, a rebuilding team within their own division. The Sharks have had a promising offseason, starting with selecting centre Macklin Celebrini first overall in this year's NHL entry draft and then picking defenceman Sam Dickson 11th overall. These moves indicate a bright future for San Jose, but the team still needs experienced players to bridge the gap as their young prospects develop.

Ceci could be an ideal fit for the Sharks' current needs. Despite having some inconsistencies, particularly during playoff runs with the Oilers, Ceci is a dependable defenceman who can log heavy minutes. This capability is crucial for a team like San Jose, which aims to gradually integrate its young talent into the NHL. Having a veteran like Ceci to shoulder the workload on the blue line would allow the Sharks to ease their younger defencemen into the league, preventing them from being overwhelmed and providing them with a model of stability and professionalism.

Trading Ceci to the San Jose Sharks presents a win-win scenario, similar to the one with the Senators. This potential move also underscores the intricate balancing act NHL teams must perform to manage their rosters and salary caps effectively, ensuring both immediate competitiveness and long-term growth.