The Toronto Maple Leafs have prioritized bolstering their defense this offseason, and one trade proposal suggests they could bring back Cody Ceci from the Edmonton Oilers.

PuckPedia has introduced a new tool called PuckGM, allowing users to create hypothetical trades. One user proposed a deal where the Maple Leafs would re-acquire Ceci as part of a multi-player exchange.

Maple Leafs receive:
– Cody Ceci
– Beau Akey

– Alex Steeves

In this proposed trade, Toronto would take on Ceci’s contract, which is in its final year of a four-year, $15 million deal. Ceci’s name has come up in trade talks as the Oilers look to clear cap space following the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.

Toronto would also receive Beau Akey, one of Edmonton’s top defensive prospects, who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Akey played in 14 OHL games last season, recording 4 goals and 5 assists.

In return, the Oilers would acquire RFA forward Alex Steeves, who has yet to secure a contract and has been a fringe NHL player. However, the primary focus of the trade is to offload Ceci’s contract so Edmonton can match the offer sheets for Broberg and Holloway.

Oilers Need to Clear Cap Space
Edmonton is currently over the salary cap and needs to create room to match the Blues’ offer sheets. To achieve this, they may need to trade Ceci or fellow defenseman Brett Kulak. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, league executives have indicated that teams interested in taking on these contracts would likely demand additional assets, possibly a first- or second-round pick.

Edmonton could also consider placing forward Evander Kane on LTIR, which would free up $5.125 million in cap space, provided Kane remains injured.

The Oilers have until August 20 to decide whether to match the Blues’ offer sheets for Broberg and Holloway.

Ceci’s Time With The Maple Leafs
Ceci first joined the Maple Leafs on July 1, 2019, in a trade from the Ottawa Senators. Toronto acquired him along with Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk, and a 2020 third-round pick in exchange for Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown, and Michael Carcone.

Ceci signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Toronto, but his lone season with the team was marred by an ankle injury in February, causing him to miss a month. He played 56 games, recording 1 goal and 7 assists, and appeared in five playoff games, scoring once. After the Maple Leafs were eliminated, Ceci left Toronto and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.