Lightning re-sign defenceman Erik Cernak to three-year contract

December 22, 2020 - 4:10pm

Columbus Blue Jackets' Ryan Dzingel, left, and Tampa Bay Lightning's Erik Cernak, chase a loose puck. (Jay LaPrete/AP)

The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up defenceman Erik Cernak to a three-year contract with an average-annual value of $2.95 million.

Cernak played in 67 games last season for the Lightning recording five goals and 12 points while finishing second on the team in hits with 172. In 25 games during Tampa’s Stanley Cup run, Cernak played in all 25 games averaging 20:43 of ice time per game which was the fourth most among Lightning defencemen.

The 23-year-old was originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. Before he could play an NHL game with the Kings, the Slovakian defenceman was acquired by the Lightning before the 2017 trade deadline in a deal sent for Ben Bishop and a conditional draft pick to Los Angeles.

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