Edmonton Oilers risk losing Leon Draisaitl now that Cody Ceci has been traded

Last season, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl made sure Cody Ceci wasn't traded at the NHL trade deadline. The two have reportedly become best friends.

However, yesterday, the Oilers traded Ceci and a 2025 third-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for blueliner Ty Emberson. This was part of a move to get under the salary cap, marking their second deal of the day.

Ceci, who spent the last three seasons with Edmonton, had five goals and 20 assists in 79 games last season. The 30-year-old also contributed two goals and three assists in 24 games during the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Being a professional athlete can be challenging, especially when players are asked to leave behind familiar surroundings. Draisaitl's effort to keep Ceci in Edmonton shows his strong character and his appreciation for Ceci's value to the team and community.

However, the NHL is a business, and trades often happen quickly. The Oilers had to move Ceci to the Sharks to free up cap space, raising concerns about how this might affect Draisaitl. Given his close friendship with Ceci and previous ties to the Sharks, there's a possibility that Draisaitl might consider joining his friend in San Jose in the future.