Cody Ceci

The Oilers thought enough of Ceci's performance in Pittsburgh this past season (four goals, 17 points, plus-18 rating, 74 hits, 70 blocks in 53 games) to hand him a four-year, $13 million contract as an unrestricted free agent this summer. It was a massive payday for a guy who was playing on a one-year, $1.25 million deal in 2020-21. Ceci is a stay-at-home, shutdown defender who generates little offense. He has never posted more than 26 points in a single season, and his block and hit totals are middling for a rearguard. He might help Edmonton win a handful of hockey games, but he likely won't help your fantasy squad.

The fact that Ceci managed just eight points in 56 games for the Maple Leafs last season no doubt left many people scratching their heads when the Penguins signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal in October. General manager Jim Rutherford is likely hoping the 25-year-old's heavy shot will enable him to return to the form that has helped him reach the 20-point mark three times in his seven-year NHL career. Minutes are far from guaranteed for Ceci this season, as he will have to stave off challenges from Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola for a spot on the third pairing.

Ceci has been a pretty reliable scorer from the blue line for the Senators since making his NHL debut in 2013, notching 32 goals and 118 points in 440 contests, but he's always been a defensive liability, posting an ugly minus-60 rating over that span. Now with the Maple Leafs, Ceci will have to settle for a reduced role in 2019-20, which will almost certainly lead to a decrease in his offensive production. The 2012 first-round pick will likely struggle to crack the 20-point mark this campaign, so he can safely be disregarded in the majority of fantasy formats.

Ceci, 24, should be a solid defensive presence on the Senators blue line for years to come (provided he's not traded). But while defense-first players are critical in winning hockey games, they don't usually emerge victorious in the fantasy world. The exception is leagues where blocked shots count, as Ceci ranked eighth in the league with 171 of those to go along with 163 hits. While he isn't a total liability on the offensive side of things having notched 14 assists last year, the Ontario native doesn't provide strong plus-minus numbers (minus-27 last year), and it's evident that in most formats, there are better options available.

Ceci had a somewhat disappointing season from an offensive perspective in 2016-17, tallying 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 79 games on the heels of 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 2015-16. The 23-year-old blueliner did, however, average an impressive 23:12 of ice time per game while registering 111 hits and 159 blocked shots by season’s end, making him a useful option in fantasy leagues that reward those categories. If Ceci can bounce back offensively and continue to munch minutes while racking up hits and blocked shots, he could offer deep-league value in 2017-18, but owners in most formats will want to take a wait-and-see approach.

Entering his age-22 season, Ceci is trending distinctly upward, which should result in him being the second Senators blueliner taken in fantasy drafts. He hit 10 goals for the first time in his career last season, adding 16 assists, a plus-9 rating and 130 blocked shots. The second pairing is ultimately his home behind Erik Karlsson, placing the youngster next to veteran Dion Phaneuf, which should benefit his game in the long run. Although 2012's No. 15 pick may be a few years from exploding, consistent improvement is just what the doctor ordered and he’ll deliver with a guaranteed role. Take him late (if he lasts) and don’t look back, as Ceci should provide excellent value.

Ceci has everything a Senators fan could want in a defenseman. He's a hometown boy, an Ottawa native who played his junior hockey for the OHL's Ottawa 67's. The 21-year-old is a big body at 6-foot-3, and he's only going to bulk up more as he ages. Last year's 21 points in 81 games were fairly modest, but Ceci should see significantly more ice this year as a top-four defenseman, and he could notice a spike in production accordingly. He's shown plenty of scoring ability in both juniors and the AHL, and a more featured role -- especially on the power play -- could make 2012's 15th overall pick a player to watch in fantasy circles this year. Grab him cheap and enjoy the profits.

The 20-year-old defenseman was the 15th-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, and carved out a regular spot on the Sens blue line during the second half of last season. He only posted three goals and six assists in 49 NHL appearances last season, but there's certainly an expectation that his production will climb as he's given more responsibility with age. There's no guarantee that jump in output will come this season, but he's worth keeping an eye on in the early weeks of the season since he could be the kind of waiver pick up that clinches a competitive league if he explodes offensively.

Ceci was the 15th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, and is still just 19 years old. He racked up 64 points in 69 games in the OHL in 2012-13, and recorded a goal and an assist in three games with AHL Binghamton at the end of last season. If he keeps up his near point-per-game production in his first full season as a pro, it's certainly conceivable that he could come up to the NHL. It looks like a long shot at this point, as another year or two of seasoning before the NHL would probably help, but Ceci is certainly a player to keep an eye on for the future.