In a surprising turn of events, the Edmonton Oilers have made some bold moves on the trade front, shaking up their roster ahead of the upcoming NHL season. The latest trade saw defenseman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round draft pick heading to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Ty Emberson, a deal that left many fans scratching their heads.
This trade comes hot on the heels of another trade that saw the Oilers acquire forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 fourth-rounder. It seems like the Oilers front office is not afraid to make big moves this offseason to try and improve their team.
Ceci, a seasoned defenseman at 30 years old, has been a part of the Edmonton Oilers for the past three seasons, where he put up solid numbers with five goals and 20 assists in 79 regular-season games. His performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was also commendable, with two goals and five points in 25 games as the Oilers made a deep playoff run.
On the other side of the trade is Ty Emberson, a 24-year-old defenseman who showed promise in his rookie season with one goal and nine assists in 30 regular-season games. The young defenseman is signed at a reasonable $950,000 cap hit this season, making him an attractive addition to the Oilers’ blue line.
The trade frenzy doesn’t stop there for the Oilers, as they face a critical decision with restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. The St. Louis Blues have tendered offer sheets to both players, giving Edmonton a week to match the offers. With limited cap space, the Oilers need to make some tough decisions on who to keep.
According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, the trades involving Ceci and Emberson were made with an eye on creating cap space to potentially retain one or both of Broberg and Holloway. The offer to Broberg is a lucrative two-year deal with a hefty price tag, while the offer to Holloway is also significant. It remains to be seen how the Oilers will navigate these offers and shape their roster for the upcoming season.
As the offseason drama unfolds, one thing is for sure: the Edmonton Oilers are not afraid to make bold moves in their quest for success. It will be intriguing to see how these trades and contract negotiations play out in the coming days. Stay tuned for more updates as the Oilers continue to make waves in the NHL.
