Why does Cody Ceci keep getting big NHL deals?

Cody Ceci is one of those players who just keeps confusing people. You’ll watch him with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Edmonton Oilers, and the eye test doesn’t exactly show you how good he is. In addition, a lot of the advanced analytics usually aren’t flattering either. When he was in Toronto, some fans thought he was the worst player on the ice.

So you start thinking, “How is this guy getting real minutes?” And then he hits free agency or gets traded and suddenly a team is like, “Here’s a multi-year deal.” Again. How does that keep happening? Right now he’s on a four-year contract with a $4.5 million AAV with the Los Angeles Kings, and it runs through 2028-29. So what are teams actually paying for?

Why Does Ceci Keep Signing High-Value Contracts?

First, Ceci is a big right-shot defenceman who’s basically allergic to getting hurt. He’s 6-foot-3, and coaches trust him to log a lot of minutes without making everything a circus. For more than a decade, he’s been a regular top-four guy or a heavy third-pair option—so he’s not just a fill-in. He blocks shots, takes defensive-zone starts, and tends to be solid on the penalty kill. If you’re a coach and you want someone who helps kill penalties and makes the “don’t mess this up” play, Ceci fits that description really well.

People around the league have basically described him as steady. Not flashy. Not a highlight-reel guy. Just reliable, the type who does the boring defensive work that doesn’t trend on social media but keeps teams from falling apart.

The Other Side to Ceci’s Play

The other side of Ceci is real too. When he’s on the ice, possession and expected-goals numbers have often been average to below average, especially against stronger teams. He doesn’t create much offence, and if you ask him to do more than shutdown-ish, low-risk defending, things can look rough. That’s why fans in Toronto and Edmonton would get annoyed. When mistakes happen, they’re the kind that stand out.

His first season in LA (2025-26) followed the same vibe: 82 games, 9 points, a -10 rating, and again, solid penalty-kill contributions. The Kings used him more as a third-pair guy, and the underlying numbers were mixed.