The Edmonton Oilers traded defenceman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenceman Ty Emberson on Sunday. Emberson was recently seen in action against the Vegas Golden Knights during an NHL game in San Jose on February 19, 2024. The news was accompanied by a photo taken by Jeff Chiu for The Canadian Press and AP.
Edmonton - The Edmonton Oilers have made a significant trade, sending defenseman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks. In return, the Oilers acquired 24-year-old defenseman Ty Emberson from the Sharks. This trade marks Edmonton’s second major move on Sunday as they continue to adjust their roster for the upcoming season.
Cody Ceci, who spent the last three seasons with the Oilers, was a reliable presence on the blue line. In his most recent season, the 30-year-old played 79 games, scoring five goals and adding 20 assists. Ceci also played an essential role in Edmonton’s journey to the Stanley Cup final, contributing two goals and three assists in 24 postseason games. With one year remaining on his contract at a $3.25 million cap hit, Ceci’s departure is part of the Oilers’ efforts to manage their salary cap.
Ty Emberson, on the other hand, is a younger defenseman with a promising future. Last season was his first in the NHL, where he managed to score one goal and contribute nine assists over 30 games with the Sharks. Emberson, who has a $950,000 salary-cap hit for the upcoming season, brings a fresh defensive option to the Oilers as they look to solidify their lineup.
Earlier in the day, the Oilers made another move by acquiring forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, previously belonging to the Ottawa Senators. These transactions come on the heels of an offer sheet challenge from the St. Louis Blues, who last week extended offers to Oilers' restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. The Blues’ offer sheets include a two-year deal at $4.58 million per season for Broberg and another two-year deal at $2.29 million per season for Holloway. Edmonton now faces a tough decision regarding whether to match these offers, which could strain their salary cap even further.
The Oilers have seven days to decide whether to match the offers or let the players go. If they choose not to match, they will receive compensation in the form of draft picks—specifically a second-round pick for Broberg and a third-round pick for Holloway.
With these moves, Edmonton is actively reshaping its roster, balancing the need for financial flexibility with the desire to remain competitive. The upcoming days will be critical as the Oilers decide the fate of Broberg and Holloway, while the addition of Emberson and Podkolzin signals a new direction for the team.
