Kings Scratch Cody Ceci as Flyers Weigh Forward Trade

The Los Angeles Kings will leave defenseman Cody Ceci out of the lineup against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday evening as the team searches for its first victory of the 2026-27 NHL season. The decision, reported by LA Kings Insider's Zach Dooley, comes after Los Angeles opened the campaign with a league-worst 0-4-2 record.

Ceci, a right-shot defenseman who joined the Kings during the 2025 offseason, has appeared in all six of the team's games this season and recorded one assist. According to the report, he is in the second year of a four-year contract carrying a $4.5 million annual salary cap hit.

The Ottawa native played all 82 regular-season games for Los Angeles in 2025-26, recording one goal and nine points. He also appeared in three postseason games that season.

Ceci has played for seven NHL teams since beginning his career with the Ottawa Senators in 2013-14. His previous stops include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.

Before the 2021-22 season, Ceci signed a four-year contract with Edmonton, where he scored two Game 7 goals. During the 2025 offseason, he was traded to San Jose for Ty Emberson and played 54 games with the Sharks before another move sent him to Dallas ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.

With the Stars, Ceci recorded nine assists in the final 31 regular-season games and added three assists across 18 playoff appearances before joining Los Angeles.

Philadelphia Flyers face a separate roster challenge as the team considers changes to its forward group. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco reported that a team source believes a move may be necessary after Philadelphia began the season 0-6-3 before winning its last two games.

The Flyers have several wingers competing for roster opportunities while lacking comparable depth at center. Di Marco identified Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett as potential trade candidates, with Philadelphia seeking a top-six center.

Konecny, 29, is on injured reserve and is in the second season of an eight-year contract carrying an $8.75 million cap hit. The London, Ontario, native has consistently produced around 25 goals and 60 points per season, and his contract includes a full no-move clause through the 2031-32 season.

Tippett, 27, is also on injured reserve. The Peterborough, Ontario, native has averaged approximately 25 goals and 47 points across the past four seasons, according to the report, and carries a $6.2 million cap hit in the third year of an eight-year contract. His agreement includes a 10-team no-trade list.

Philadelphia's other wing options include Trevor Zegras, Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster. The combination of established forwards and emerging players has contributed to the team's surplus on the wings while its center position remains comparatively thin.

Brady Tkachuk will return to Ottawa on Wednesday when the Florida Panthers visit the Senators, marking his first trip back to his former team since an offseason trade. Ottawa originally selected Tkachuk fourth overall in 2018, and he recorded 213 goals and 463 points in 572 games with the Senators.

The Senators traded Tkachuk to Florida during the 2026 offseason in a deal involving the ninth overall draft pick. Ottawa subsequently traded that selection to the San Jose Sharks for William Eklund.

Tkachuk initially had a slow start with Florida but scored consecutive natural hat tricks during the week leading into the Ottawa matchup. Those performances brought his season totals to six goals and nine points in nine games.

Speaking on his podcast, Tkachuk said that any jerseys thrown onto the ice during his return would be donated to Ottawa's Boys and Girls Club. The former Senators captain is expected to face a hostile reception after the circumstances surrounding the end of his tenure in Ottawa.