Report: Leafs' Ceci to explore open market

It appears as though Cody Ceci will be finding a new home this offseason.

The Toronto Maple Leafs blue-liner is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Oct. 9 and is headed to the open market, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. However, the 26-year-old could circle back to the Leafs once the market opens, LeBrun adds.

Ceci signed a one-year, $4.5-million deal with Toronto after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators in July 2019.

The 6-foot-2 defenseman tallied one goal and eight points while logging 20:32 of average ice time across 56 contests. He ranked second on the Leafs in hits (92) and third in blocked shots (79).

The Leafs have $6.106 million in projected cap space for next season, according to CapFriendly. Defenseman Travis Dermott and winger Ilya Mikheyev are two important restricted free agents in need of new deals, while 29-year-old blue-liner Tyson Barrie is set to become an unrestricted free agent.