With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Cody Ceci!
Cody Ceci
Birthdate: December 21, 1993
Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario
Height: 6’3
Weight: 209 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Draft: 1st round, 15th overall, 2012 NHL Entry Draft
2024-25 season
Cody Ceci started the year with the San Jose Sharks after being acquired in a trade in the offseason. Being on the final year of his contract and on a rebuilding team, Ceci would be traded again, this time midseason, to the Dallas Stars after posting 15 points (4 G, 11 A) in 54 games with San Jose.
Cody Ceci called game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/MpkMCfhQSS
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 4, 2025
Ceci recorded nine assists in 31 games with Dallas and accomplished the rare feat of playing more than the maximum 82 games in a season by playing a combined 85 games between San Jose and Dallas.
During the playoffs, Ceci played heavy minutes due to the injury of Dallas’ number-one defenseman Miro Heiskanen. As you would expect, the analytics, according to Natural Stat Trick, weren’t good, especially in the Colorado series when the Avalanche had more shot attempts than the Stars at 5v5 with Ceci on the ice. The shot attempts were a staggering 202 to 98 (67.33% Corsi For) advantage for Colorado with Ceci on the ice at 5v5 in those seven games.
For the playoffs with the Stars, Ceci was on the ice for a total of 23 goals against (3rd most by a Stars defenseman) and 16 goals against at 5v5 (tied most for a Stars defenseman).
2025-26 outlook
Ceci will play his first year in a Kings uniform after being signed to a four-year deal on the first day of free agency by general manager Ken Holland and is expected to replace Jordan Spence on the third pair. Ceci’s size is the type of defenseman the Kings like to fit in their system. In addition to his size, his veteran status, ability to play on the penalty kill, and familiarity with new general manager Ken Holland from his time in Edmonton made him a prime target for LA.
We’ve got a few more guys to welcome to LA! ✍️👑 pic.twitter.com/zWrIA8YQfV
— LA Kings (@LAKings) July 1, 2025
Despite having size and being able to eat up minutes at 5v5 and on the penalty kill, the Kings downgraded on the right side of their third pairing when looking at Ceci’s numbers. The eye test, stats, and analytics show that size and ability to play roughly 20 minutes a game shouldn’t be the only factors to justify the four-year contract Holland handed out. A team’s offense starts with a defenseman breaking the puck out of the zone, and Ceci also isn’t good in that aspect.
Cody Ceci, signed 4x$4.5M by LA, is a veteran defenceman who is very good at getting coaches to play him in important minutes and not very good at several other things. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/H0JOQqNmUO
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) July 1, 2025
When you sum it all up, the Kings paid a hefty price for a third-pair defenseman. Whether he is paired with Joel Edmundson or Brian Dumoulin, the Kings’ third pair might be the most expensive third pairing in the league, with an $8.35 or $8.5 million AAV. Expect him to have a role on the penalty kill and possibly big minutes when the Kings are protecting a lead.
Cody Ceci is a King.
He appreciated his time with the Stars, feels like he can come into LA and play the hard minutes against their opponents’ top guys. pic.twitter.com/jS3cGkt0lb
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) July 1, 2025
Featured image credit: Julio Cortez/AP Photo
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