The Edmonton Oilers have traded defenseman Cody Ceci and a 2025 third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Ty Emberson. The deal was initially reported by Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, who adds that no salary cap was retained. Spector mentions that moving Ceci’s $3.25MM cap hit could give Edmonton enough space to retain defenseman Philip Broberg while forward Dylan Holloway could be headed to the St. Louis Blues. Both players recently signed two-year offer sheets with the Blues – Broberg’s totaling $9.16MM in salary and Holloway’s totaling $4.58MM.
The two restricted free agents are in similar spots in their careers – yet to vindicate their first-round precedent, though still carving out routine roles in Edmonton’s lineup. They were utilized similarly, averaging roughly 11:30 in ice time this season, though Holloway played 38 games to Broberg’s 12. Retaining both players would cost the Oilers $6.87MM in cap hit – a tough bill to pay for an Oilers team that was already $8.225MM over the cap ceiling. It seems the team is opting to hold onto the defenseman, though it will cost them near-800-game veteran Cody Ceci.
Despite routinely receiving criticism, Ceci was an anchor of Edmonton’s top-four last season, averaging 20 minutes of total ice time and more penalty-kill time than any other Oiler. He ended the year with five goals and 25 points in 79 games this season, adding five points in 24 playoff games – where he notoriously partnered with Darnell Nurse for some of the best and worst moments of the postseason. After three years in Edmonton, Ceci will move to his fifth NHL franchise in this trade. He’ll seemingly – and perhaps surprisingly – become San Jose’s top right defenseman, joining a room occupied by Jan Rutta and Matt Benning. He’ll be the second-most experienced on the blue-line, though leader Marc-Edouard Vlasic – who’s just four games shy of 1,300 career games, though he became a routine healthy scratch last season.
Ceci’s departure opens a big hole in the Oilers’ blue line, which could finally yield the opportunity that Broberg’s been waiting for. He’s only averaged 12:42 in ice time through 81 career games and hasn’t played over 19 minutes in a single game since November of 2021. Broberg has yielded 13 career points in the limited role, though stepping into top-four minutes could be enough to kick the former top-10 pick into high gear.
That could cost them winger Holloway, who’s scored 18 career points – and added seven in 25 games this postseason. Holloway was drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, selected after a strong freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, where he totaled 52 points in 58 games over two years in Wisconsin before turning pro in 2021. He has since bounced between the NHL and AHL lineups, showing flashes of promise as a hefty play-driver but never finding his spark. His 6-foot-1, 206-pound frame is just 10 pounds heavier than winger Vasily Podkolzin, who Edmonton acquired for a 2025 third-round pick earlier today. Podkolzin fits into the same conversation as Holloway and Broberg – a former top draft pick struggling to show what he can do at the top level. The size similarities and Podkolzin’s cheap $1MM cap hit seem to back the idea that Holloway could be headed to St. Louis – though nothing is official yet.
Regardless of their decision with Broberg and Holloway, Edmonton emerges from this swap with young defender Ty Emberson, who played through his first 30 NHL games last season, scoring 10 points and showing value as a shutdown defender on a struggling San Jose roster. But a lower-body laceration suffered in February cut Emberson’s rookie year short, leaving Sharks fans guessing where his upside might fall.
Multiple teams have shown interest in Emberson at one point. He was initially drafted by the Arizona Coyotes ahead of a three-year tenure at the University of Wisconsin, where he managed 34 points in 101 games. Emberson turned pro with the Tuscon Roadrunners in 2020, getting a taste of tougher competition before a 2022 trade to the New York Rangers in exchange for Patrick Nemeth and draft picks in 2025 and 2026. New York signed Emberson to a one-year, league-minimum contract but placed him on waivers two months later. San Jose placed a claim as the fourth team on the priority list, ultimately pushing Emberson into his first NHL role. He’ll now move to Edmonton with the chance for even more growth as he battles Broberg and Nurse for ice time on the right-hand side.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Weak draft pick for EDM having no leverage. Should have took a 2nd
Also Emberson has upside. EDM cap dump and get younger for a 3rd and get to keep Broberg as a result. Tidy business from Bowman. Greir does ok here as Ceci is an upgrade but its not win now mode so agree a 3rd seems meh with Bowman backed up against a wall.
Not quite how this stuff works. Teams don’t just take a draft pick. They must ask for it and the other team must agree. Stick around and you may catch on.
I think you missed the point…
What reason is a 3rd round pick to take on a bad contract from the Oilers? One season of ~4 million routinely takes a 2nd
So they put Kane on LTIR, keep Broberg, lose Holloway. The D needs Broberg and his big cap hit. Ha ha!
had they done this sooner apparently Broberg was only asking for $1.8M originally but St. Louis thought Edmonton would be priced out at over $4M Broberg is the Big Winner here and St. Louis is the Big Troll here XD
Broberg at over 4mil is insane, but it’s only 1 season. Losing Holloway may end up being the wrong call, considering better pick for Broberg and paying him out more, gives them much less wiggle room during the season to make roster moves
2 year contract for both……….
And Stlouis gets their man. The Blues D is already over-loaded.
Oilers can actually afford both now. And im assuming thats exactly what they do
Yeah, I think they keep both Holloway and Broberg.
I’m keen to see Emberson. Sounds like to Oilers may have got an under rated D. And he played with the coach 2 years ago, so the Oilers likely know what they are getting.
They may keep the guy who wants out Broberg. Great Edmonton media this not Ken holland fault. Doug Armstrong never does this to Ken Holland. They are friends. This is Stan Bowman. Most people In hockey don’t like Stan Bowman. It has nothing to with Kyle Beach. He has a superior attitude.
Stan Bowman’s biggest accomplishment is being a member of the lucky sperm club.
Small correction: Calen Addison was non-tendered by the Sharks and is presently a UFA.
Emberson is… Not amazing. I think on most NHL teams, he’s a 7th D. On last year’s Sharks, he becomes a Top 4 defender. I think from GMMG’s perspective, flipping a big question mark who is coming off a major injury for an established NHL player AND a pick is some serious wizardry. Think about that – a waiver pickup for Ceci and a 3rd. Not too shabby, and brings a veteran into the room to work with young talent like Mukhamadullin.
Really like this trade for San Jose. For Edmonton though… Idk man. Makes sense for clearing cap? At best it’s a prudent financial move, but if Emberson can’t come back from injury, it looks a lot worse.
Fixed
We can’t really judge this trade from the Shark’s perspective until we see what Ceci brings them at the deadline. If they retain half, then Ceci cost $1.6M against the cap with an expiring contract. If he has a decent year there could be a lot of teams in the market for a cheap, experienced, right shot defenseman.
Don’t think they have any retention slots left, but you’re right to speculate he’ll be flipped at the DL… maybe even back to EDM :)
Correct, Sharks can’t retain anybody this season. One retention slot opens up after the Burns contract expires next summer
They can move him at the deadline without retention, no problem. Someone will cough up a 3rd for a 6/7 experienced D.
Maybe I haven’t completely woken up yet this morning, but this article was a tough read. Hopefully it was just me. I felt like I has to often reread sentences.