This former Stars defenceman is now stuck with one of the worst deals in hockey

Cody Ceci's contract lands on worst NHL deals list as Stars quietly avoid long-term damage.

It's not the kind of headline you want to see just months after leaving a team, but Cody Ceci is now getting attention for all the wrong reasons.

In The Athletic's annual list of the ten worst contracts in the NHL, Ceci was ranked ninth overall for the upcoming season.

The veteran defenceman, who briefly played a top-four role with the Dallas Stars in 2025, is now viewed as a major overpay by league standards.

His new deal with the Los Angeles Kings, a four-year contract worth $4.5 million per season, is being called one of the least team-friendly agreements in the league.

Why Cody Ceci's post-Dallas Stars contract is being called one of the worst in the NHL

Ceci joined the Stars as part of a deadline trade with San Jose that also brought in forward Mikael Granlund.

He was slotted into a pairing with Esa Lindell and asked to play big minutes in key playoff games.

But Ceci's underlying numbers never impressed. Despite his physical presence and penalty kill usage, his impact in transition and zone exits raised concerns.

According to The Athletic, Ceci's on-ice value is projected closer to $1.5 million
meaning Los Angeles could be overpaying by more than $14 million over the life of the deal.

"He brings the tools teams want, but the results haven't followed him for years."

Granlund, who also left the Stars after the 2025 playoffs, just missed the top 10 list. He signed a three-year, $7 million AAV deal with Anaheim, which some also consider an overpay.

The Stars, meanwhile, avoided locking themselves into either player and will now have more cap room to work with under GM Jim Nill.

I think Dallas made the right call letting both players walk after short playoff rentals.