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Potential Roster Changes for Oilers Following Trade of Ceci to Sharks: Broberg and Holloway's Future with Team Uncertain

Potential Roster Changes for Oilers Following Trade of Ceci to Sharks: Broberg and Holloway’s Future with Team Uncertain

August 19, 2024

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.

The Edmonton Oilers made a significant move recently by trading defenseman Cody Ceci to the San Jose Sharks. This trade has sparked speculation about potential roster changes for the Oilers, particularly in regards to top prospects Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway.

Broberg, a highly-touted defenseman, was selected eighth overall by the Oilers in the 2019 NHL Draft. Since then, he has shown promise in the AHL and has even made a few appearances with the Oilers. However, with Ceci’s departure, there is now an opening on the blue line that Broberg could potentially fill. The 20-year-old Swede has the size, skill, and skating ability to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL, and many believe he is ready for a full-time role with the Oilers.

On the other hand, Holloway, a forward drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, has also been making waves in the AHL. The 20-year-old has shown flashes of his scoring ability and playmaking skills, leading many to believe he could be a valuable asset for the Oilers in the near future. With Ceci’s departure potentially opening up a spot in the lineup, Holloway may have an opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level sooner rather than later.

However, it is important to note that nothing is set in stone when it comes to roster changes. The Oilers may choose to make additional moves in free agency or via trade to address any gaps left by Ceci’s departure. Additionally, both Broberg and Holloway will need to continue to develop and prove themselves in order to earn a spot on the roster.

Overall, the future looks bright for both Broberg and Holloway with the Edmonton Oilers. With Ceci’s trade opening up potential opportunities for them, it will be interesting to see how they continue to progress and potentially make an impact with the team in the coming seasons. Oilers fans should keep an eye on these two young prospects as they could play a key role in the team’s success moving forward.