While scanning the Penguins’ roster the other day, I had an inkling Jim Rutherford had one more move up his sleeve. An instinct that proved correct when the Pens’ GM signed right-shot defenseman Cody Ceci, late of Toronto, to a one-year deal yesterday for $1.25 million. A move that’s already drawn howls of derision from other blogs.
The reason? At first blush, Ceci appears to be a 26-year-old clone of the recently departed and much-maligned Jack Johnson. Eerily so.
Like Johnson a former high draft pick, Ceci was taken 15th overall by Ottawa in the 2012 Entry Draft. He has size (6’2” 210) and an inclination to use it (a career-high 163 hits in 2017-18). He blocks shots (eighth in the league with 171 in ’17-18) and is reputed to be a good penalty killer.
Although not especially fast or mobile, the Ottawa native’s flashed some offense in the past (10 goals in ’15-16 and seven in ’18-19), a part of his game that seemed to evaporate with the Maple Leafs last season (a lone goal and eight points). While more suited to a third-pairing role, he has skated on the top-pairing in the past with none other than Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. He’s fairly durable and a minutes muncher to boot, averaging 21 minutes of ice time per game over his seven-season NHL career.
There are other similarities to Johnson. Most not so good. Ceci’s career Corsi is 46.1…JJ’s by comparison a lofty 47.0…although it pretty much matches Cody’s career o-zone starts percentage (45.7).
Now for the truly ugly. Ceci finished dead last on the Senators in each of his last four seasons in Ottawa in 5-vs-5 shot attempts differential, totaling a horrific minus-1170. In fact, Ceci was the worst player in the league in that category two seasons running (’17-18 and ’18-19).
Remarkably, he logged a respectable plus-10 in 5-vs-5 shots differential with the Leafs last season, so there is hope that his prior numbers were at least in part driven by how he was used, not to mention the fact that he skated for a poor Sens squad.
The good news? Ceci’s signed to a one-year deal, so if he doesn’t pan out we’re not wedded to him long-term. Too, Cody was paired with another black-and-gold newcomer and likely defense partner, Mike Matheson, during the 2016 IIHF tournament, helping Canada capture the gold.
“We did play together a little bit at that tournament,” Ceci said. “It will be nice to see him again. Maybe get a chance to play together again. We could be a pretty good (defensive) pair, so who knows?”
Undoubtedly what GMJR is hoping.
On the surface, another former high draft pick and reclamation project for new Pens defense coach Todd Reirden, who carries a reputation for being a miracle-worker when it comes to restoring damaged goods. Let’s hope (and pray) he succeeds.
Penguins Sign Miletic
The Pens signed Sam Miletic to a one-year, two-way contract for the $700,000 league minimum. In his two pro seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the 23-year-old left wing has tallied 21 goals and 67 points in 111 games. He was the Baby Pens lone all-star game selection last season.
The 6’0” 197-pound Michigan native has yet to play in the NHL.
The move leaves the Pens with one unsigned RFA, Pontus Aberg. Acquired from Toronto in the Kasperi Kapanen trade, the speedy Swedish forward currently plays for Traktor Chelyabinsk in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
Hey all,
Did a little more reading up on Ceci. Apparently, his rather dramatic jump in 5-vs-5 shots differential from an abysmal minus-342 his last year in Ottawa to a plus-10 with the Leafs was due in no small part to the fact that he was paired with William Rielly and saw considerable ice time with the likes of offensive studs Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Interesting to note that Rielly’s numbers took quite a tumble, from 20 goals and 72 points to a rather pedestrian three goals and 27 points (in 47 games).
Don’t know if there’s some sort of cause-and-effect there.
JFresh regards Ceci as a sub-replacement player, as in the guy waiting in line behind him is a better option.
Anyway, just thought I’d share…
Rick
Hey Rick,
Not to try and shine light through the gloomy clouds Rick, but on the flip side of that coin, since Ceci was playing with the likes of Reilly, Matthews, and Nylander, 3 of the 5 most frequent5 on 5 non-Goalie opponents on the ice with our Pens new RHD man were Pastrnak #1, Marchand #3, and Bergeron #4. Ceci wasn’t exactly facing Dominik Simon that often skating with Toronto’s celestials. When skating with your teams best you tend to draw the other teams best.
Don’t get me wrong Rick, I can think of several other D men I would have sought over Ceci, but considering that the Penguins only have 2 legitimate NHL Defensemen (Dumoulin and Marino) and 1 potential one (Riikola), I doubt he will be the worst D-man on this team. JFresh may not have really looked all that deeply at the Penguins D-roster. Maybe on a contending team, Ceci may be a Sub-replacement, but on a team that looks to be pretending, he isn’t all that bad.
The Penguins best hope is that the current financial climate will drag other teams down to their level.
Hey all,
There’s an article on Last Word on Sports dated May 30, 2019, titled “Why the Ottawa Senators Need to Move on From Cody Ceci.”
Downright chilling. As I read on and viewed the various charts and graphs, it was a lot like reading the stuff sites like Pensburgh would post about Jack Johnson. In fact, you literally could’ve substituted Johnson’s name for Ceci’s.
Here are three particularly scary observations:
“The Sens bleed shots from everywhere when Ceci is on the ice. The worst part is, the massive red spot in the slot. This means that when Ceci is on the Sens give up tons of high danger chances. His play is just unacceptable.”
“Cody Ceci is one of the toughest players to watch on the ice. Time and time again he gets caught doing nothing but watching the puck. He often loses his man out front while just eyeing the puck the entire time and it is an issue that has never been fixed.”
“His puck decision skills under pressure are absolutely horrid. Instead of trying to stay calm and find an opening he will blindly fire the puck away and hope for the best. Often times this leads to a turnover and even a goal against.”
Wow.
Maybe the only saving grace…a latent offensive upside and flashes of potential here and there. But it is scary, analytics-wise, how similar he and Johnson are.
Rick
Hey Rick,
Thanks for the update.
However, according to Capfriendly Ceci is signed for 2 years at $1.25 mil per year for $2.5 mil.
I really would rather have had Matt Benning, but looking at the Corsi of the Players Ceci has played with over the last 3 seasons, only the players on the Leafs’ squad seem to have better Corsi numbers without Ceci than with. His numbers in Ottawa may really have been a question of playing with bad teammates in a division loaded with good opponents (Tor, Bos, TB).
I really didn’t have time to really analyze but there were a lot of sub 50% numbers listed on Ceci’s Teammates when not playing with Ceci. So, yes there may be some hope. Maybe with better quality forwards and a trustworthy D partner, there may be something there.
Also, as for Give Aways, he won’t be the worst player on the team in that category. Looking at the last 3 seasons the D candidates for worst Gv will be;
Matheson 3.03, 5.03, and 3.27
Letang 2.45, 2.2, 2.24
Pettersson 1.79, 2.17, and 1.53
even Ruhwedel may be worse 0.83 2.31 and 1.53
Only Dumoulin would appear not to be on pace to Gv the puck more.
So, even though Ceci’s Corsi and Possession numbers may not be his fault, he doesn’t appear to be in good position to show his stuff. Since Dumoulin is more than likely playing with Letang and Sullivan doesn’t seem to want to give Riikola a chance, Ceci will either be paired with Pettersson or Matheson; not very good prospects for the guy.
The good news is that if he doesn’t workout, he is only signed for 2 years and can possibly be buried in the minors.
Hey Other Rick,
Thanks for the comments and the insights. Ceci’s possession numbers did improve (dramatically) in Toronto, and that was skating alongside Morgan Reilly on the second pairing. I don’t think he’ll be asked to do as much with the Pens.
Still, some of his metrics are truly chilling…and Johnson-esque…along with the descriptions of his play. Let’s face it, you don’t wind up worst in the league in a certain category two years running without contributing to it in some way.
To digress, interesting that Rutherford acquired or signed five former first-round picks over the offseason (Ceci, Jankowski, Matheson, Kapanen and McCann). Almost as if he were trying to make up for the first rounders traded away. Obviously hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with a few if not all.
Regarding Ceci’s contract, everywhere else I look says it’s a one-year deal…including NHL.com.
Rick
I saw that but Capfriendly has it at 2 years. Not sure what the truth is.
Hey Other Rick,
CapFriendly must have updated. It’s now listed as 1-year.
For the record, I was thinking Ron Hainsey or Deryk Engelland as our third right defenseman. Geezers both, although they’re both great leaders and I’d love to have Deryk’s toughness as an option.
But obviously, Ceci promises to have more of an upside than either of the greybeards. Hopefully, anyway…
Rick
Hey Rick
I am almost starting to smile. With all of these signings, it makes it less and less likely that Simon will be signed.
And, most importantly, none of these signings are for obscene money and term.