Cody Ceci Bio
Cody Ceci (born December 21, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 209 pounds, Ceci has built his career as a steady, minutes-eating blueliner since being selected 15th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Over more than a decade in the league, he has suited up for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars, establishing himself as a reliable two-way defenceman.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Ceci came from an athletic family and developed his game in one of Canada’s strongest junior programs before stepping into the professional ranks. His journey from a top-ranked junior defenceman to a long-tenured NHLer reflects both patience and consistency, with stints in several Canadian markets and a brief American chapter before returning west.
Early Life and Background
Cody Ceci was born on December 21, 1993, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Parri Ceci, a former Canadian Football League receiver who was named the 1984 Vanier Cup MVP. Growing up in a sports-oriented household in Ottawa helped shape Cody’s early interest in athletics, and the city’s strong hockey culture gave him a natural entry point into the game.
Ceci has an older sister named Chelsea and a younger brother, Cole, who pursued his own hockey career as a goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals and later played for the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL. Cody attended St. Peter Catholic High School in Orléans, Ottawa, between the ages of 13 and 18, graduating in 2011. He then attended Lakefield College School, a private boarding institution just north of Peterborough, Ontario, balancing academics with his growing junior hockey commitments.
While playing junior hockey with the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL, Ceci also attended Carleton University, continuing his education alongside his demanding hockey schedule. This dual focus on school and sport reflected the disciplined approach that has marked his career. Cody is also one-quarter Filipino descent, a heritage he has acknowledged as part of his family background.
Path to Professional Hockey
Ceci’s path to the NHL began in earnest with the Ottawa 67’s, where he developed into one of the top defencemen in the Ontario Hockey League. In the 2011–12 season, he finished second in scoring among all OHL defencemen with 60 points, trailing only Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara IceDogs. That production elevated his draft stock significantly and drew attention from National Hockey League scouts across the league.
Ottawa Senators General Manager Bryan Murray was so eager to select Ceci that he contacted three different teams early in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in an effort to move up and secure the defenceman before another club could. When Ceci remained on the board at 15th overall, the Senators made their pick. On August 23, 2012, Ceci signed a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa, officially beginning his professional career.
After his main junior season, Ceci was briefly traded to the Owen Sound Attack in January 2013 to help that club push past the London Knights in the OHL’s Western Conference. Once the Attack were eliminated, he joined the Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, for the final three games of the regular season. Paired on defence with team captain Mark Borowiecki, he recorded his first professional point in his second game and scored his first professional goal the very next day in the season finale.
Cody Ceci Career
Early Career with the Ottawa Senators (2013–2019)
Following his 2012 draft selection, Ceci began the 2013–14 season with the Binghamton Senators before earning his first NHL call-up in December 2013. He made his NHL debut on December 12, 2013, against the Buffalo Sabres, a 2–1 Ottawa win. Just four days later, on December 16, 2013, Ceci scored his first NHL goal at 3:59 of overtime against goaltender Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues, sealing a 3–2 victory. That goal made him the first teenager in NHL history to score his first career goal in overtime.
Over the following seasons, Ceci grew into a top-four role with the Senators. At the start of the 2016–17 campaign, he signed a two-year, $5.6 million contract extension, reflecting his importance to the franchise. After filing for salary arbitration in 2018, he agreed to a one-year, $4.3 million deal with Ottawa on August 3, 2018, and remained a central part of the team’s defence corps through the 2018–19 season.
Toronto Maple Leafs (2019–2020)
On July 1, 2019, Ceci was traded by the Senators, along with Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk, and a 2020 third-round draft pick, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Connor Brown, Michael Carcone, and Nikita Zaitsev. Three days later, on July 4, 2019, he agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract extension with Toronto.
Ceci scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf on October 4, 2019, in a 4–1 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. His time in Toronto was cut short by an ankle injury suffered in February 2020, which placed him on injured reserve until March 6, 2020. Despite the setback, his steady defensive play during his stint made him a respected member of the locker room.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2020–2021)
On October 17, 2020, Ceci signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The deal gave him a fresh start and an opportunity to contribute on a contending roster. Although his Penguins tenure was brief, it added another chapter to his résumé as a dependable, veteran presence on the blue line.
Edmonton Oilers (2021–2024)
On July 28, 2021, Ceci signed a four-year, $13 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent. The signing came shortly after the Oilers lost defenceman Adam Larsson to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, leaving a defensive role to be filled. In his first season in Edmonton, he produced five goals and 23 assists during the regular season, anchoring the team’s back end.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ceci scored the series-clinching goal in Game 7 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, one of the signature moments of his Oilers tenure. Edmonton’s playoff run ended in the Western Conference Final, where they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Ceci remained an important piece of the Oilers’ defence through the 2023–24 season before being moved in the summer of 2024.
San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars (2024–2025)
On August 18, 2024, Ceci was traded to the San Jose Sharks along with a 2025 third-round pick in exchange for defenceman Ty Emberson. His time in San Jose lasted only a few months before he was on the move again. On February 1, 2025, Ceci, along with Mikael Granlund, was traded to the Dallas Stars for a first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Due to scheduling, Ceci played 85 regular-season games combined between the Sharks and the Stars that year, becoming the ninth player in NHL history to appear in at least 85 games in a single season. His durability and steady two-way play continued to make him a valuable addition to any defensive group.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2025–Present)
As a free agent following the 2024–25 season, Ceci signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2025. The move brought him full circle in a sense, returning to a Pacific Division rival of several of his former clubs and joining a team with playoff aspirations. His combination of size, experience, and reliability made him a natural fit for the Kings’ defensive structure.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a 6-foot-3, 209-pound defenceman, Ceci brings size, mobility, and a calm presence to the blue line. He is known for his steady defensive zone play, efficient puck movement, and willingness to log heavy minutes in all situations. Throughout his career, he has been trusted by coaches in both penalty kill and even-strength roles, pairing well with more offensive-minded defencemen who benefit from his responsible coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ceci’s career came on December 16, 2013, when he became the first teenager in NHL history to score his first career goal in overtime. His Game 7 series-clinching goal against the Kings in the 2022 playoffs further cemented his reputation for delivering in high-pressure moments, and his 85-game season across two teams in 2024–25 placed him in rare company in league history.
Cody Ceci Career Highlights
NHL Regular Season and Playoffs
Across more than a decade in the National Hockey League, Cody Ceci has been a steady contributor for every team he has joined. He has scored key goals at important junctures, including his overtime winner against the St. Louis Blues in December 2013 and the Game 7 clincher against the Los Angeles Kings in the 2022 playoffs. While his offensive totals have varied from year to year, his defensive reliability and ability to play top-four minutes have remained constant.
International Play
On November 18, 2009, Ceci was selected by Hockey Canada to compete in the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge for Team Ontario. He later attended Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp in 2010 and represented his country at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championship. On April 11, 2016, Ceci was one of 18 players selected by Hockey Canada for the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where he won a gold medal in his senior debut for Canada.
Cody Ceci Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cody Ceci comes from a deeply athletic family. His father, Parri Ceci, played as a receiver in the Canadian Football League and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1984 Vanier Cup. His younger brother, Cole, played goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League with the Oshawa Generals and later suited up for the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL, while his older sister is named Chelsea.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Cody Ceci owns two French Bulldogs named Zeus and Hugo. In 2024, while he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers, Hugo participated in the team’s annual “Ruff Ruff Relay” and won first place in the competition. Cody is also one-quarter Filipino descent, a part of his heritage that adds to the rich cultural background of his family.
2025 Season Performance
Cody Ceci’s 2024–25 campaign was one of the most unusual of his career. After being traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Dallas Stars on February 1, 2025, he split the season between two organizations and played 85 combined regular-season games, the ninth-highest single-season total in NHL history. His durability allowed him to log meaningful minutes on both rosters while contributing to a Stars team that remained in playoff contention.
Following the conclusion of the season, Ceci became a free agent and signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2025. The signing marked a new chapter for the veteran defenceman, who joined a Kings team looking to make a deeper playoff push in the Pacific Division. His experience and physical style were seen as ideal fits for Los Angeles’ defensive identity.
Entering the 2025–26 season, Ceci is expected to play a significant role on the Kings’ blue line, providing stability and leadership to a defensive corps in transition. With several seasons still left on his new contract, his steady presence is likely to remain an asset for the Kings as they chase postseason success in the years ahead.