Reaction to Oilers’ Ceci-for-Emberson Trade – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers went through a lot last week. After the St. Louis Blues have decided to hand in tender sheets for forward Dylan Holloway and defender Philip Broberg, with seven days to decide whether to match the offer or let them go. Holloway was given a two-year contract at $2.2 million per year and Broberg was given a two-year contract at $4.5 million per season. On Tuesday morning, the Oilers announced their decision to opt out of any contract and allow both players to join the Blues. To the dismay of some fans, the Oilers seem to have found both of their replacements in separate jobs with the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks.

Related: Ty Emberson: Everything You Need to Know About the Oilers’ New Acquisition

First, the Oilers acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Canucks for a fourth-round pick, seemingly in exchange for Holloway. In the second deal, the Oilers traded Cody Ceci and the Sharks for a third-round pick in exchange for Ty Emberson, who seemed to be replacing Broberg. While Podkolzin’s deal was solid as the Oilers didn’t have to give up much for a highly talented player, Emberson’s deal is one that fans should watch out for as a potential steal. While concerns have been raised about the overall depth of the defensive line, Emberson has improved it to a front four and solidified the defensive structure heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

While Ceci added a solid veteran presence on the ice, it often didn’t translate to solid play on the ice. His lack of defensive prowess made it difficult for the coaching staff to rely on him in clutch and pressure situations, but he was retained as a potential morale booster. Trading him to the Sharks gives him a much-needed fresh start on a rebuilding team and if he bounces back, he could be thrown into the 2025 Trade Deadline to be a contender and get another chance to win a Stanley Cup for a depth role.

Emberson is a stark contrast to Ceci, and has proven to be a tough season with the Sharks. On a last-place team in the NHL, he proved to be a solid stay-at-home defenseman who could play a lot of minutes on a nightly basis. His shot blocking ability, explosive IQ, and ability to win puck battles in the defensive zone make him an intriguing addition to the Oilers blue line, and he should be the perfect partner for Darnell Nurse.

Emberson’s only offense is his lack of offensive production. However, the Oilers were looking for a defenseman who focuses on defense and is reliable on the penalty kill and in late game situations to get the puck out of the net, and Emberson fits the bill. It’s hard to predict whether Emberson will be a stud as soon as the season starts, but all signs point to him being a diamond in the rough that the Oilers are taking full advantage of at a low price.

Losing Ceci and Broberg Means an Open Spot in Training Camp

While Emberson, Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Nurse, and Brett Kulak have their spots on the opening night roster guaranteed, there is an open spot up for grabs in training camp. The loss of Ceci and Broberg means there is a hole, and whoever has the best camp can start the season in the NHL. Josh Brown, Beau Akey, Troy Stecher, Max Wanner, Phil Kemp, and Ben Gleason all have a chance to crack the opening night lineup and solidify themselves as a slow defenseman. While it’s safe to assume that one of Brown or Stecher will win the final roster spot, there’s no guarantee.

Even if the Oilers didn’t realize it themselves, the Blues’ offer sheets for Holloway and Broberg made the team better, as they forced a trade for Ceci that improved their roster on their own, but getting Emberson in return was a pleasant surprise moving forward. the group. At the end of the day, they are well prepared to bounce back in the new campaign, and fans should be confident in their chances of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1990.