Inside the NHL’s Biggest Contract Blunders of 2025: Shocking Surprises from Huberdeau to Provorov
Ceci wasn’t one of the league’s absolute worst defensemen; he was just grossly overused. A No. 4 who is played like a No. 2 is often going to look like a No. 6 — and that’s Ceci’s career in a nutshell. After accounting for how difficult Ceci’s minutes have been throughout his career, he ends up grading out at a No. 4 for the majority of his career. Some years have been uglier than that, yes, but for the most part, he’s just been an over-utilized second-pair guy.
That’s what the Kings are paying him to be and it’s possible Ceci can be that if he’s actually used appropriately. But in his 30s, the math has probably changed for Ceci and that all started with Edmonton’s run to the final in 2024. Even after accounting for usage, Ceci looked much rougher than usual. That carried over into the 2024-25 season, where he was predictably dismal on a bad team, but also struggled to find top-four form on a contender, too. The Stars used him too much, yes, but you’d still expect stronger numbers even in that role.
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