Oilers send Ceci, 3rd-rounder to Sharks for Emberson

The Edmonton Oilers created some much-needed cap space Sunday, trading defenseman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for blue-liner Ty Emberson, the teams announced.

Ceci is entering the final year of his contract with a $3.25-million cap hit. Moving out his money is critical for the Oilers as they try to navigate the offer sheets the St. Louis Blues tendered to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.

The Blues tendered a two-year offer sheet with a $4.58-million average annual value to Broberg and a two-year offer sheet with a $2.29-million AAV to Holloway. The Oilers will receive a second-round pick for Broberg and a third-rounder for Holloway if they don't match the contracts and have until Tuesday to decide.

Following the trade, Edmonton can now match both offer sheets and be $199,459 under the cap to begin the season with a 22-player roster, assuming Evander Kane and his $5.125-million AAV open the campaign on long-term injured reserve. While Kane's injury situation is murky, multiple reports indicate he'll undergo surgery and begin the year on LTIR. It's unclear how long he'll be out.

Ceci, a 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman, has averaged 20:38 of ice time per game in his 11-year NHL career, though his on-ice results have consistently been subpar.

The 30-year-old spent the last three seasons in Edmonton, primarily as Darnell Nurse's partner on the second pairing. However, Broberg eventually took over that role during the 2023 playoffs, as the club relegated Ceci to third-pairing duty.

Ceci has also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators in his career. The Sens drafted him 15th overall in 2012.

Emberson tallied 10 points in 30 games with the Sharks as a rookie in 2023-24. The 6-foot-1, right-shot blue-liner posted strong defensive metrics while averaging 18:33 per contest.

With a $950,000 cap hit, Emberson is a more economical option to replace Ceci on the third defense pair. Journeymen Josh Brown and Troy Stecher are also candidates for that role.

Emberson is on a one-year deal and will become a Group 6 unrestricted free agent if he plays 49 NHL games or less in 2024-25. If the 24-year-old plays 50 or more NHL games, the Oilers will retain his rights as a restricted free agent.

The Arizona Coyotes drafted Emberson in the third round in 2018. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 2022 and claimed off waivers by the Sharks in 2023.