This shocking contract stat proves how overpaid Cody Ceci has been

A stunning salary stat has surfaced, and now reveals just how overpaid Cody Ceci has been throughout his NHL career.

It almost sounds made up, but it's completely true.

By the end of his current contract, veteran defenseman Cody Ceci will have earned more total money in the NHL than Wayne Gretzky.

Yes-that Wayne Gretzky.

The stat was highlighted in a piece by a user on X, showing that Ceci's career earnings will top $51 million, compared to Gretzky's $46 million over his two-decade run with the Oilers, Kings, Blues, and Rangers.

How Cody Ceci's career earnings have quietly surpassed the greatest hockey player of all time

Ceci, who signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings this summer, has now become a $50 million player on paper.

This despite the fact that he's never hit 30 points in a season, has rarely played top power-play minutes, and was recently named one of the NHL's worst-value contracts by multiple outlets.

An analyst told The Hockey Writers:

"It's not about Ceci being bad. It's about what the league pays for replacement-level defense these days."

Wayne Gretzky, meanwhile, played over 1,400 games, changed the sport forever, and retired in 1999 with what was then considered enormous lifetime earnings.

But even with inflation adjustments, Ceci's final total will technically be higher.

"This is just the world we live in. It's shocking, but it's not even rare anymore."

Ceci may not be a superstar, but between long-term contracts in Ottawa, Edmonton, and now LA, he's quietly become one of the league's most overpaid depth defenders.

I still can't believe a third-pair guy has out-earned the greatest player in hockey history.