SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks partially helped the Edmonton Oilers out of a tricky spot on Sunday night — and got a future asset for their troubles — acquiring defenseman Cody Ceci plus a 2025 third-round draft pick for defenseman Ty Emberson.
Faced with the prospect of losing two of their top young players to the St. Louis Blues via offer sheet and already $7.25 million over the NHL salary cap of $88 million for this upcoming season, the Oilers, per a Postmedia report last week, have been looking to trade Ceci to clear cap space.
By trading Ceci, 30, and a draft pick for Emberson, the Oilers will save $2.3 million under the cap, potentially giving them a better chance of retaining 22-year-old forward Dylan Holloway and 23-year-old defenseman Philip Broberg, who signed offer sheets with the Blues last week.
Holloway’s two-year deal with the Blues carries a $2.29 million cap hit per season. Broberg’s two-year contract is worth $4.58 million a year.
Now armed with more cap flexibility, the Oilers have until Tuesday to decide whether to match the Blues’ offer for one or both players or let them walk for draft pick compensation.
The Oilers found themselves vulnerable to an offer sheet this summer after they signed Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique, Connor Brown, and Corey Perry — deals that left them millions over the cap.
Ceci, listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, is entering the final year of a four-year, $13 million contract that carries a $3.25 million salary cap hit. Emberson, 24, was signed to a one-year, $950,000 deal as a restricted free agent in July. Per PuckPedia, he is set to become a Group 6 UFA next summer.
After trading Ceci for Emberson & saving $2.3M Cap Hit, #LetsGoOilers $5.926M Projected over cap w/ 24 active players incl. Kane, Holloway & Broberg
Potential LTIR: Kane $5.125M
Potentially not matching RFA offer Sheet: Holloway $2.29M, Broberg $4.58Mhttps://t.co/2XvSepWEDz
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 19, 2024
With Ceci, the Sharks now have another veteran right-shot defenseman they can potentially flip at next year’s NHL trade deadline. Other right-shot defensemen on the Sharks roster include Jan Rutta and Matt Benning. Rutta is also a pending UFA.
Ceci, who played with new Sharks winger Tyler Toffoli with the Ottawa 67s from 2009 to 2011, averaged 20:01 of ice time per game last season for the Oilers, including a team-leading 2:36 in average shorthanded time on ice.
“Cody is a solid, competitive veteran defenseman who brings a well-rounded skill set to our group,” Sharks defenseman Mike Grier said in a statement. “He’s a strong penalty killer who can also contribute offensively and he brings extensive playoff experience. We’re excited to have him join our organization.”
The Sharks now have four picks in the first three rounds of next year’s draft — two of their own and two from other teams. The Sharks received Vegas’ 2025 first-round pick when they traded Tomas Hertl to the Golden Knights earlier this year.
In 786 NHL games with Ottawa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and Edmonton, Ceci has 211 points (48 goals, 163 assists) and 170 penalty minutes. Ceci also has 19 points in 88 Stanley Cup playoff games with Ottawa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and Edmonton.
Emberson dealt with injuries throughout the 2023-2024 season and appeared in just 30 Sharks games after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Rangers on Sept. 30, 2023. He had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) and six penalty minutes, averaging 18:33 in ice time per game.
