Dud: Cody Ceci, D
The Kings' defensive pairing including veteran Cody Ceci has struggled for the team on the road in the back-to-back games this weekend north of the border in Canada, including against the Oilers yesterday on the road in Edmonton.
This was a forgettable road trip this weekend up north of the border in Canada for the defensive pairing of Ceci and veteran Brian Dumoulin. Multiple goals were scored by the Winnipeg Jets on Friday a couple of days ago in Manitoba and against the Oilers on the road in Edmonton yesterday night against Ceci and Dumoulin defensively.
In this past couple of games this weekend on the two-game road trip in Canada vs. the Jets and Oilers, Ceci combined for over five turnovers/giveaways, including a few defensive and neutral zone turnovers. One of those defensive/neutral zone turnovers this weekend on the road in Canada caused a goal early in the game in the opening frame in the first period by the Jets a couple of days ago on Friday.
The Kings truly just have such an old decrepit blue line. You know it’s bad when you’d rather throw out Ceci than some of the guys playing a regular shift.
— Puckmarks (@puckmarks) January 10, 2026
The worst part is you know Ken Holland doesn’t see the issue and probably would rather trade young guys.#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/f4bCeJpT8b
In the final frame in the third period yesterday, the defensive pairing of Ceci and Dumoulin played the fewest minutes of any group pairing on the blue line on defense for Hiller and the Kings in clutch time. Ceci and Dumoulin both played fewer than 18 minutes in time on the ice yesterday for the Kings vs. the Oilers on the road.