Ceanothus are not long lived or deep rooted. Once they start looking bedraggled, just pop another one in and get shot of the untidy looking shrub. More business for your favourite garden centre.

Bit early to go digging and throwing away anything yet, it is to easy to think that any plant looking dead, is dead, when all it's waiting for is longer daylight hours and some warmth, (sounds like me.........). Give it a while as it may go mad this spring.

Do nothing now, wait till late Spring, say April or May. If the shrub is still alive, you should see new growth by then, and if parts of it are dead, cut those parts out.

I took a cutting from a Ceanothus that is 30 yrs plus old and is located at sea level. It has grown well, but every winter loses it's leaves. It comes back to life in mid to late spring. But the altitude I live at may make it short lived. I'd wait until may to decide if it is worth replacing.