NHL insider Frank Seravalli talks about Cody Ceci’s trade rumors (image credit: IMAGN)

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Cody Ceci had a plus-minus of zero against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals. He is one of the Oiler’s best D men, averaging 20 minutes of ice time, and has averaged 79 games in his last three seasons. His impressive stats make him a good asset for teams trying to build their defense.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff recently discussed the potential trade market for Cody Ceci. Speaking on “Oilers Now” with Bob Stauffer, Seravalli said that the Oilers might explore trading Ceci to address their salary cap issues. The Oils are currently over the cap, and mixed feelings exist regarding Ceci’s pairing with Darnell Nurse and his overall value to the team.

Seravalli discussed the trade interest in Ceci, stating:

“I can tell you with 100 percent certainty there is a market for Cody Ceci. Right-shot defensemen in that pay range are always in demand.”

“Just look at the money thrown around this summer. Cody Ceci at that number is probably quite palatable, and likely interesting to some cap-strapped teams. There’s a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ option if Jeff Jackson and the Oilers want it. In the meantime, let’s see what develops.”

Ceci is in the final year of his $13,000,000 contract with the Oils. His performances have been mixed. He played well when paired with Brett Kulak, however, his play with Darnell Nurse has received criticism. In the 2024 playoffs, their pairing allowed six goals and scored 14 at even strength. This raised concerns about their defensive reliability.

Ceci’s value as a right-shot defenseman remains high. Teams dealing with salary cap limits find him attractive as his contract is affordable, and his experience adds to his appeal.

Edmonton Oilers also acquired Matthew Savoie from the Sabres

Matthew Savoie, a lifelong Edmonton team fan, was recently acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forwards Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio. The 20-year-old forward, originally from St. Albert, is excited to join his favorite childhood team.

“I definitely had a couple of jerseys and would go to games with my parents at Rexall and even at Rogers, when I was younger,” Savoie said Monday. “I have a Nugent-Hopkins jersey. I have a couple of jerseys, my dad has a couple of jerseys, so we were definitely an Oilers household.” (via NHL.com)

Savoie was drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft and played in his first NHL game on November 10, 2023. Following a scoreless debut, he played in the AHL. He later returned to the WHL with Wenatchee, which relocated from Winnipeg for the 2023-24 season.