Finally, after five days of silence in response to the St. Louis Blues’ aggressive offer sheets for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, the Edmonton Oilers showed some signs of activity on Sunday.
First, the Oilers traded a fourth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for left winger Vasili Podkolzin. Later that evening, they made a more significant move by trading Cody Ceci and the final year of his contract (with no salary retention) to the San Jose Sharks. In return, they acquired 24-year-old right-shot defenseman Ty Emberson, a younger and more affordable option. The Oilers also included a third-round pick in the deal.
Ceci’s departure and the clearing of his $3.25 million cap hit likely indicate Edmonton’s intention to match the Blues’ offer to Broberg, which is just under $4.6 million per year for the next two years.
🔁 TRADE 🔁
The #Oilers have acquired defenceman Ty Emberson from San Jose in exchange for defenceman Cody Ceci & a 2025 third-round draft pick.#LetsGoOilers
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 19, 2024
As for Holloway, his future remains uncertain, with Podkolzin potentially stepping in as his replacement. The Oilers are expected to clarify the situation on Monday, although no media availability has been announced yet.
Ceci joined the Oilers three summers ago as a free-agent replacement for Adam Larsson, who had been lost to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. Hard-working and durable, Ceci was well-liked in Edmonton’s locker room, though some fans viewed his contract as too expensive.
Despite the criticism, Ceci provided solid value during his time in Edmonton. Over three seasons, he played 237 out of 246 games, averaging 20:21 minutes per game with a stat line of 11 goals, 57 assists, and a +31 rating, along with just 52 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 52 of 53 playoff games, contributing 3 goals, 10 assists, and 14 penalty minutes.
Good luck Cody Ceci pic.twitter.com/NOR2PePgkB
— Vintage Oilers (@VintageOilers) August 19, 2024
Ty Emberson, meanwhile, developed through the US National Team Development Program and played three years at the University of Wisconsin. Drafted in the third round by the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, he was traded to the New York Rangers in 2022 and spent a solid season with the Hartford Wolf Pack under head coach Kris Knoblauch, who is now the Oilers’ head coach. Emberson was later claimed by the Sharks after the Rangers attempted to waive him, and he spent last season in San Jose, where he appeared in 30 games, recording 1 goal, 9 assists, and a -4 rating on a struggling team. He averaged 18:33 minutes per game, playing a physical style with 94 hits and 46 shot blocks, and saw some time on the penalty kill. Although he missed the end of the season due to a lower-body injury, he’s reportedly ready for training camp.
Emberson is on a one-year, $950,000 contract, which could lead to him becoming a Group 6 free agent if he doesn’t play 80 NHL games. However, if he plays 50+ games with the Oilers, the team could retain his restricted free agent rights. He’ll compete with players like Troy Stecher and Josh Brown for a spot on the right side behind Evan Bouchard and likely Broberg. With both Ceci and Vincent Desharnais now gone, the 3RD position is open.
The Oilers will miss Ceci in the locker room and on the penalty kill, where he played 54 playoff minutes without being on the ice for a single goal against. However, the Oilers needed to clear cap space to make room for Broberg’s new contract, and Ceci was the most likely candidate for such a move, with Brett Kulak being another option.
It’s a tough break for Cody Ceci, who moves from Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to the last-place team in the league, but such is life in the NHL. A consummate professional, Ceci will take it in stride as he joins his fifth NHL team. He’ll contribute as much as he can and might be moved again at the trade deadline or in free agency next summer. Best of luck to him.
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