Defenceman Cody Ceci is on the move after signing a contract with the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings become Ceci’s seventh team.
Cody Ceci Signs with LA
Terms for Cody Ceci with #LAKings: 4 years x $4.5 million.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2025
Ceci’s contract is a four-year term worth $4.5 million a season.
Ceci was a crucial addition for the Dallas Stars last season. Dallas dealt with injuries throughout its lineup, but the defence was hit especially hard during the playoffs. The Stars already entered the playoffs without top defenceman Miro Heiskanen, and they had other players playing through issues.
They also needed more from the unit as a whole. Heiskanen and Thomas Harley were the only two who could run the power play and really contribute any offence. Plus, veteran free agent signings Brendan Smith, Matt Dumba, and Ilya Lyubushkin just weren’t cutting it.
That put Ceci on the second defence pairing next to veteran Esa Lindell. Both were solid veteran players, but the pairing left much to be desired from an offensive standpoint. Ceci finished last season with five goals and 20 assists (25 total points) but did not score a goal in a Dallas uniform. However, he played great defence for the Stars during the first two rounds of the playoffs.
What It Means
The Kings should expect to get the exact player described above. Ceci has been around the NHL for a long time, with several different clubs, and can be counted on to play at an average to slightly above-average level. He’s not a top-pairing defenceman and won’t wow anyone offensively. Much of his play seems to be influenced by those around him.
Los Angeles will be a new city for Ceci and the Kings will be a new team. However, we can imagine Ceci will continue to lead and shape the defensive core with his new team.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron- Imagn Images
