SAN JOSE – Since the San Jose Sharks acquired Cody Ceci from the Edmonton Oilers in August, there has all the time been a possibility that the pending unrestricted free agent might be swapped for future assets on the NHL trade deadline.
Another option for the Sharks is to re-sign Ceci, and the veteran defenseman said Monday that he would really like to stay in San Jose beyond this season.
With two months to go before the NHL trade deadline on March 7, right guard Ceci said he’s greater than open to signing a contract extension with the rebuilding Sharks, who he believes are moving in a positive direction.
“It's always a big decision,” the 6-foot, 200-pound Ceci told the Bay Area News Group about where to proceed his profession. “The organization will do what’s best for them and I’ll do what’s best for myself. I actually have really enjoyed my time here to this point. I would really like to remain and work with this group and see what we will do in the long run.
“The future is bright for some of these young people and I would like to stay and be a part of it.”
Ceci, who turned 31 on Dec. 21, ranks second amongst all Sharks skaters in average time on ice (22:02) this season as he formed half of the team's top defensive pairing, mainly with Jake Walman, but recently also with Henry Thrun.
Heading into Tuesday's home game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Ceci, who reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers last season, leads the Sharks in short-handed ice time (132-33) and blocked shots (73).
On Saturday, Ceci scored his third goal of the season late within the period, helping the Sharks to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
“The role I’m playing now is a big role and it’s a lot of fun,” Ceci said. “It’s a good opportunity for me and I think it’s a good opportunity for the organization to have me in this role now and with some young guys down the road.”
Ceci said there have been no discussions about extending contact with Sharks general manager Mike Grier, but hopes those discussions can occur later this month or in early February. The Sharks won’t play from February ninth to twenty second since the NHL is on pause for the four-nation duel.
Ceci is in the ultimate yr of the four-year, $13 million contract he signed with the Oilers as a free agent in July 2021. He said he would really like to sign a brand new contract with an identical term.
“I think that would be good if they put me in my mid-30s,” Ceci said. “I think that would be something we would think about.”
From a positional and organizational perspective, it will be easy for Ceci to be a long-term fit with the Sharks. The other right-backs within the San Jose squad are Jan Rutta, one other outstanding UFA player, and Timothy Liljegren, who’s signed until next season but has been used primarily in the middle pair role.
The Sharks imagine Jack Thompson and fellow right guard Sam Dickinson have shiny futures, but it surely can be asking an excessive amount of to fill a top pairing role within the NHL next season.
Henry Thrun and Shakir Mukhamadullin are also on the rise, but each are left-backs.
After the Sharks acquired Ceci and a 2025 third-round draft pick from the Oilers for defenseman Ty Emberson, Grier mentioned that trading Ceci “could be an option.” But it is also that we actually benefit from the player and think that he suits well into our group and that he likes it here and that it can turn into something where he can find yourself being a partner for a few of our young (defenders) who’re coming along.
“We just have to wait and see how the season turns out.”
Ceci's attributes of being a tall, blocking, penalty-killing, playoff-experienced right-shot defenseman make him a sought-after trade goal for some postseason teams. But those self same traits could also make him someone Grier and the Sharks wish to keep.
“He’s a true professional in every sense of the word,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said of Ceci.
“The way he takes care of himself, the way in which he competes every night, the way in which he trains within the gym, plays through the bumps and bruises, and his identity as a defenseman on this league doesn't waver much. “
“He was an important support for us in showing the younger defenders day after day how to play at this level.”
Even though the Sharks usually are not in playoff contention this season and might not be for an additional yr or two, Ceci believes the team is moving in the precise direction.
“When you have people coming back every year who are already familiar with the systems and where things are, you lose the adjustment period of trying to figure things out and you lose games,” Ceci said. “So I think the more people you have with you, the better it gets every year.”
BASIC POWER UPDATE: Winger Carl Grundstrom participated fully in Monday's practice and might be an choice to play Tuesday against the Golden Knights, Warsofsky said, because the Sharks complete a six-game home stretch.
Grundstrom was injured in the course of the Sharks' first period game against the Calgary Flames on December 28 when he blocked an open-ice hit from defenseman Brayden Pachal within the neutral zone. Grundstrom left the sport and was placed on injured reserve last Thursday to create a roster spot for defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who made his season debut that evening. The Grundstrom transaction took place retroactively to December twenty ninth.
The Sharks would should make a move to activate Grundstrom, who has five points in 30 games this season. One solution can be to position center Nico Sturm on IR. Sturm was injured last Thursday in the sport against the Tampa Bay Lightning when he blocked a shot by Darren Raddysh and didn’t practice on Monday.
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