With their second trade Sunday, the Edmonton Oilers may have tipped their hand on how they intend to proceed in their key offer-sheet decision.
Edmonton cleared cap space by sending Cody Ceci and a third-round pick in 2025 to the San Jose Sharks for fellow defenceman Ty Emberson.
Ceci has a $3.25-million cap hit next season, while Emberson’s is $950,000.
Earlier Sunday, the Oilers acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick.
The Oilers have until Tuesday to decide whether to match the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheets for defenceman Philip Broberg (two-year contract, $4,580,917 cap hit) and forward Dylan Holloway (two-year contract, $2,290,457 cap hit)
With the moves, there is a scenario where the Oilers could keep both Broberg and Holloway, as explained by PuckPedia.
The scenario would include forward Evander Kane going on long-term injured reserve and putting one salary in the minors.
Ceci, 30, had five goals and 20 assists in 79 games last season. He has 48 goals and 163 assists for 211 points in 786 career games with the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and Oilers.
Emberson, 24, had one goal and nine assist in his first 30 NHL games last season with the Sharks.
The Sharks claimed the former Arizona Coyotes third-round pick off waivers from the New York Rangers in September 2023.