Cody Ceci Bio
Cody Ceci (born December 21, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. Ceci has played for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars during his NHL career. Selected 15th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators, he has developed into a reliable two-way defenceman known for his size, defensive awareness, and offensive contributions from the blue line.
Ceci made his NHL debut in December 2013 and quickly established himself as a steady presence on the Ottawa blue line through multiple contract extensions. Over more than a decade in the National Hockey League, he has played well over 700 regular-season games and appeared in multiple Stanley Cup playoff campaigns with several organizations. His career path includes a notable series-clinching goal in the 2022 playoffs and a historic 85-game season played across two teams in 2024-2025.
Early Life and Background
Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Cody Ceci is the son of Parri Ceci, a former Canadian Football League wide receiver who earned Vanier Cup Most Valuable Player honors in 1984. His younger brother Cole Ceci played as a goaltender for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and currently plays for the Romford Raiders of the National Ice Hockey League. Ceci also has an older sister named Chelsea.
Ceci left home at age thirteen to attend Lakefield College School, a private boarding institution located just north of Peterborough, Ontario, where he graduated in 2011. After being drafted by the Ottawa Senators, Ceci joined the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League. While playing junior hockey with the 67’s, Ceci attended Carleton University, balancing his academic commitments with his rapidly developing hockey career.
Path to the National Hockey League
Ceci’s junior career with the Ottawa 67’s reached a standout level during the 2011-12 Ontario Hockey League season. He finished second among all OHL defencemen in scoring with 60 points that season, trailing only Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs. Ottawa Senators General Manager Bryan Murray was so determined to select Ceci in the 2012 NHL entry draft that he contacted three different teams early in the draft process in an effort to move up and take the defenceman before another franchise could. Ceci ultimately went 15th overall to the Senators, and he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization on August 23, 2012.
In January 2013, the Owen Sound Attack acquired Ceci from the 67’s in a bid to overtake the London Knights in the OHL Western Conference standings. Because Ceci did not have NHL callup rights at that point, he was able to finish the season in junior hockey. Once the Owen Sound Attack were eliminated from playoff contention, Ceci was called up to complete the season with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate. Paired on defence with team captain Mark Borowiecki, Ceci recorded his first professional point in his second AHL game and scored his first professional goal the following night in the season finale.
Cody Ceci Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Cody Ceci was assigned to the Binghamton Senators to begin the 2013-14 season after training camp, but a suspension to Ottawa defenceman Jared Cowen created an opening on the NHL roster. Ceci was called up to Ottawa in December 2013 and played his first NHL game on December 12 against the Buffalo Sabres, a 2-1 victory for the Senators. Four days later, on December 16, 2013, at 3:59 of overtime against goaltender Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues, Ceci scored his first NHL goal to win the game 3-2, becoming the first teenager in NHL history to score his first career goal in overtime.
At the start of the 2016-17 NHL season, Ceci signed a two-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators worth $5.6 million, locking him in as a core piece of the Senators blue line through the 2018-19 season. He became one of the team’s most reliable defensive pairings over the following years, steadily increasing his offensive output while maintaining responsible defensive zone coverage.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2019-2021)
On July 1, 2019, the Ottawa Senators traded Cody Ceci, along with Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk, and a 2020 third-round draft pick, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Connor Brown, Michael Carcone, and Nikita Zaitsev. Ceci agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs on July 4, 2019. He scored his first goal as a Toronto Maple Leaf on October 4, 2019, in a 4-1 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. An ankle injury in February 2020 forced the Maple Leafs to place Ceci on injured reserve until March 6, 2020, limiting his impact in his first Toronto campaign.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2020-2021)
On October 17, 2020, Cody Ceci signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His tenure in Pittsburgh lasted a single season, providing the Penguins with steady depth on their blue line before Ceci once again tested the free agent market.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2021-2024)
Cody Ceci signed as a free agent to a four-year, $13 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 28, 2021. The Oilers initiated the signing after losing defenceman Adam Larsson to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, leaving a significant defensive vacancy on their roster. In his first season with the Oilers, Ceci managed five goals and 23 assists during the regular season. During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ceci scored the series-clinching goal in Game Seven of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, propelling the Oilers into the second round. The Oilers were swept in the Western Conference Final by the top-seeded and eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars (2024-2025)
On August 18, 2024, the Edmonton Oilers traded Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks along with a 2025 third-round draft pick in return for defenceman Ty Emberson. On February 1, 2025, Ceci, along with forward Mikael Granlund, was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Due to scheduling factors, Ceci played 85 regular-season games combined between the Sharks and the Stars, becoming only the ninth player in NHL history to play at least 85 games in a single season.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2025-Present)
As a free agent following the 2024-25 season, Cody Ceci signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2025. The signing added an experienced, right-shooting defenceman to the Kings blue line as the team looks to build on its roster heading into the 2025-26 National Hockey League season. Ceci brings considerable playoff experience and a track record of contributing at both ends of the ice to the Los Angeles Kings organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
Cody Ceci relies heavily on his 6-foot-3 frame and physical presence along the blue line, using his size effectively in one-on-one battles and shot-blocking situations. His right-handed shot makes him a reliable presence on the power play and a key contributor during offensive zone entries. Ceci has consistently demonstrated strong two-way play throughout his career, often elevating his performance during high-stakes playoff moments and forming productive defensive partnerships with multiple partners across several NHL organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cody Ceci became the first teenager in NHL history to score his first career goal in overtime when he beat Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues on December 16, 2013. His series-clinching goal in Game Seven of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings stands as one of the defining moments of his career with the Edmonton Oilers. Playing 85 combined regular-season games for the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars in 2024-25 made Ceci only the ninth player in NHL history to appear in at least 85 games in a single season.
Cody Ceci Career Wins
Cody Ceci has compiled a significant number of regular-season victories across seven different NHL organizations during his professional career. His contributions have helped teams reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs on multiple occasions, and he has played a meaningful role in several playoff series victories, including a memorable Game Seven winner with the Edmonton Oilers. His offensive output from the defence position has added a reliable secondary scoring dimension to every blue line he has joined.
National Hockey League Highlights
Cody Ceci has recorded more than 230 regular-season wins across his tenure with the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and Los Angeles Kings. His first NHL goal, an overtime winner against the St. Louis Blues on December 16, 2013, remains one of the most memorable individual moments of his career. Ceci also contributed six playoff wins with the Edmonton Oilers during their deep 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff run and ten playoff wins with the Dallas Stars during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Cody Ceci Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Cody Ceci is the son of Parri Ceci, a former Canadian Football League wide receiver who earned Vanier Cup Most Valuable Player honors in 1984 while playing for the University of Calgary Dinos. His younger brother Cole Ceci played as a goaltender for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League and currently plays for the Romford Raiders of the National Ice Hockey League in Great Britain. Ceci also has an older sister named Chelsea.
Personal Life
Cody Ceci owns two French Bulldogs named Zeus and Hugo. During the 2024 season while Ceci played for the Edmonton Oilers, Hugo participated in the team annual Ruff Ruff Relay event and won first place in the competition. Ceci has also publicly noted that he is one-quarter Filipino descent.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024-25 National Hockey League season, Cody Ceci played 85 combined regular-season games between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, making him only the ninth player in NHL history to appear in at least 85 games in a single season. His season began with the Sharks before a mid-season trade to the Dallas Stars, where he joined a competitive roster pushing deep into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and contributed ten playoff wins. As a free agent following the season, Ceci signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2025, positioning himself for a new chapter with a Western Conference contender.