Cody Ceci’s brief time with the Dallas Stars has officially ended, as he has signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth $4.5 million per year. The announcement was made by the Kings on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old defenseman was acquired by the Stars in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on February 1, in exchange for a first-round and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, along with teammate Mikael Granlund. During his tenure in Dallas, Ceci made a significant impact, playing crucial minutes on the blue line. He contributed with nine assists in 31 regular-season games and tallied three assists across 18 playoff games, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time.
Ceci was utilized primarily in a top-four defensive pairing alongside Esa Lindell and played an integral role on the Stars’ penalty kill. Despite his contributions, the Stars faced challenges in maintaining Ceci, given their tight salary cap situation with his previous contract carrying a cap hit of $3.25 million.
Having been a first-round draft pick in 2012, Ceci has also had stints with Ottawa, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Edmonton, and San Jose, making Los Angeles his fourth team since the beginning of the 2023-24 NHL season.
The Stars remain equipped on the blue line with established players including Miro Heiskanen and Lindell, along with younger talent like Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist.
Ceci’s move to the Kings marks a new chapter in his career, where he hopes to continue contributing to a competitive team in Los Angeles. This transition represents the ongoing movement within the NHL as teams strategize and reshape their rosters to enhance performance in the upcoming seasons.