This summer, Jason Newland and I will continue our series looking at potential free agent targets who could be available on July 1.
Target: Cody Ceci – RD – 12 Years Experience
Ceci, 31, has suited up for his fair share of NHL teams. It looked like he was going to settle in long-term with the Edmonton Oilers, but due to cap issues, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks and then again this season to the Dallas Stars. At this stage of his career, he’ll likely want to play for a team that’s either in the playoff mix or pushing for a Cup — which does put the Columbus Blue Jackets in the conversation if he hits the open market.
Stats
Ceci achieved the rare feat of playing more than 82 games this season. He appeared in 85 total games between the Sharks and Stars, scoring four goals and adding 20 assists for 24 points. Over his career, he’s played in 871 games, tallying 52 goals and 183 assists for 235 points. He’s also logged 104 playoff games and recorded 22 points across eight postseason appearances.
Previous Salary
Ceci is in the final year of a four-year deal he signed with the Oilers on July 28, 2021. The contract carried a $3.25 million AAV for a total value of $13 million. Contract projections suggest the 31-year-old could land a deal in the neighborhood of three years with an AAV around $3.5 million this summer.
Realistic Chances of a Signing: Warm
When it comes to Ceci potentially signing with Columbus, there’s a case to be made. If the Blue Jackets can find a way to move Damon Severson this offseason, bringing in Ceci as a replacement would make sense. As a shutdown defenseman, he could fit nicely alongside Ivan Provorov (if re-signed) or Erik Gudbranson in a more defensive pairing.
If Columbus is serious about adding Ceci, they’d be wise to push for a shorter term — ideally one or two years instead of the projected three. That way, if things don’t go as planned by the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, they could move his contract to a contender and gain additional draft capital.
