The Edmonton Oilers are still in heartbreak after their loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, but have traded for a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and are now focused on strengthening their squad in hopes of making another high-flying run in the 2024-25 season. With some changes and additions, such as the signings of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, and the trades of Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres for Matthew Savoie, the Oilers may still need to move some funds to re-sign restricted free agents (RFAs). One potential trade candidate is defenseman Cody Ceci, who could have multiple NHL teams interested in adding depth to their defensive line. Here are four teams that could consider acquiring Ceci if the Oilers make him available:
Utah Hockey Club
The first team that could potentially make a move for Ceci is the Utah Hockey Club. They made some strong additions to their blue line, including a big trade to acquire Mikhail Sergachev and adding depth with the addition of John Marino. While they may not be destined to make the postseason in their first official campaign as a franchise, the additions have made the team that much more competitive. Like any team in the NHL, the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but Utah may be looking to sell seats in their first season to make themselves more competitive rather than winning a championship. Adding a Stanley Cup finalist like Ceci could do just that.
Last season, when they were still the Arizona Coyotes, the team seemed destined to rebuild and struggle for a few more seasons, but now they seem like they can make a solid playoff run with a few more seasons to go. If they acquire Ceci and don't perform well at the trade deadline, they could sell him to a championship-contending team looking to bolster their bottom pairing.
Calgary Flames
The second team that could acquire Ceci is the Calgary Flames. The Flames are in the midst of a full rebuild after their restructuring that saw them acquire Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri appears to have fallen through. If the Oilers are willing to give them back a draft pick in exchange for paying Ceci, they could acquire him in a trade. Ceci is in the final season of his contract, which would not be a positive move for the Flames. However, if the Flames are interested in adding draft capital and the Oilers are willing to include a pick in a trade, the Flames could be interested.
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Ceci would fit on the Flames' bottom pairing and would likely be used in the same way Utah would acquire him. This would add depth until the trade deadline, when he could be traded for other assets. Ceci will need a fresh start elsewhere, so the Flames could be the team to bring him in as a leader and try to fine-tune his game in order to earn a new contract heading into the 2025-26 season.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are likely to finish this season near the bottom of the league. They made no moves during free agency, were quiet in the draft, and are likely to be quiet on the trade front. If they are going to endure another tough season in their rebuild, Ceci seems like a perfect candidate to acquire. The Ducks might add a bad contract if they get a draft pick, and Ceci falls into that category. Like Utah and the Flames, the Ducks will likely look to sell him at the trade deadline in hopes of getting a solid season from Ceci.
As division rivals, it's unlikely the Ducks would be willing to help the Oilers out by acquiring Ceci for next to nothing, so realistically it all comes down to whether the Oilers are willing to add draft picks or young players to the mix. Coming off another losing season, the Ducks may be the only team willing to give Ceci more ice time and potential top-pair minutes.
Washington Capitals
The last team that could be interested in Cesi is the Washington Capitals. They have been very aggressive this offseason in trying to dig deeper once again with their current aging core. They acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane and Jakob Chychrun in trades, but may want to add depth with Cesi. The Capitals are the only team willing to pay draft picks or assets to acquire Cesi, and it's possible the Oilers could entice them to move him there. The Capitals need to find a replacement for Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Cesi could be that guy.
All four of these teams are worth acquiring Ceci, three of them would be willing to attach a draft pick to acquire him as a salary cap relief, while one team would be willing to acquire him with a late draft pick, either way, the Oilers need to move on from Ceci and all four of these teams have different reasons for wanting to acquire him.
