Erik Cernak

Tampa Bay Lightning, Defensemen
Age: 28y-9m-8d (May 28, 1997)
Exp: 6 Years
Country: SK
College: Kosice
Drafted: Round 2 (#43 overall), 2015
Agent(s): Craig Oster (Newport Sports Management)
2025-26 Cap Hit

$5,200,000

2025-26 Cash

$6,760,000

Career Earnings

$30,336,775

2023-2030 Extension (CURRENT)

Erik Cernak signed a 8 year, $41,600,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including $14,000,000 signing bonus, $41,600,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,200,000. In 2025-26, Cernak will earn a base salary of $6,760,000, while carrying a cap hit of $5,200,000.
Contract Terms:
8 yr(s) / $41,600,000
Average Salary:
$5,200,000
Signing Bonus:
$14,000,000
Free Agent:
2031 / UFA
BUYOUT CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2023-24 26 $5,200,000 6.23% $6,760,000 $6,760,000
2024-25 27 $5,200,000 5.91% $6,760,000 $13,520,000
2025-26 28 $5,200,000 5.45% $6,760,000 $20,280,000
2026-27 29 $5,200,000 5.00% $5,096,000 $25,376,000
2027-28 30 $5,200,000 4.58% $4,056,000 $29,432,000
2028-29 31 $5,200,000 4.23% $4,056,000 $33,488,000
2029-30 32 $5,200,000 - $4,056,000 $37,544,000
2030-31 33 $5,200,000 - $4,056,000 $41,600,000
2031-32 34
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Signing Proration Cap Hit Cap % League
2023-24 26 $1,260,000 $5,500,000 $5,200,000 6.23%
2024-25 27 $2,260,000 $4,500,000 $5,200,000 5.91%
2025-26 28 $6,760,000 - $5,200,000 5.45%
2026-27 29 $5,096,000 - $5,200,000 5.00%
2027-28 30 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $5,200,000 4.58%
2028-29 31 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $5,200,000 4.23%
2029-30 32 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $5,200,000 -
2030-31 33 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $5,200,000 -
2031-32 34
UFA
Year Age Base Salary Signing Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2023-24 26 $1,260,000 $5,500,000 $6,760,000 $6,760,000 - $6,760,000 $5,200,000
2024-25 27 $2,260,000 $4,500,000 $6,760,000 $13,520,000 - $6,760,000 $4,977,143
2025-26 28 $6,760,000 - $6,760,000 $20,280,000 - $6,760,000 $4,680,000
2026-27 29 $5,096,000 - $5,096,000 $25,376,000 - $6,344,000 $4,264,000
2027-28 30 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $4,056,000 $29,432,000 - $5,886,400 $4,056,000
2028-29 31 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $4,056,000 $33,488,000 - $5,581,333 $4,056,000
2029-30 32 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $4,056,000 $37,544,000 - $5,363,429 $4,056,000
2030-31 33 $3,056,000 $1,000,000 $4,056,000 $41,600,000 - $5,200,000 $4,056,000
Contract Notes
  • 2024-2026: Full No Trade Clause
  • 2027-2030: 16-team trade list
Source: NHL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2020-2022 Extension

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $8,850,000
Average Salary:
$2,950,000
Signing Bonus:
$1,700,000
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Erik Cernak's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2015-2019 Rookie

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $2,197,500
Average Salary:
$732,500
Signing Bonus:
$277,500
Free Agent:
2020 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Erik Cernak's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
Seasons

6 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$30,843,550

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 21
Active
Active
$506,775
$506,775
$506,775
$1,013,550
2019 22
Active
$700,000
$1,713,550
2020 23
Active
$1,475,000
$3,188,550
2021 24
Active
$2,950,000
$6,138,550
2022 25
Active
$4,425,000
$10,563,550
2023 26
Active
$6,760,000
$17,323,550
2024 27
Active
$6,760,000
$24,083,550
2025 28
Active
$6,760,000
$30,843,550
Total      
$30,843,550
$30,843,550
2026 29
Active
$5,096,000
2027 30
Active
$4,056,000
2028 31
Active
$4,056,000
2029 32
Active
$4,056,000
2030 33
Active
$4,056,000
Total
$52,163,550

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $19,143,550 $11,700,000 - $30,843,550
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
21
$506,775
$506,775
$506,775
$506,775
$506,775
$1,013,550
2019
22
$700,000
$700,000
$1,713,550
2020
23
$775,000
$700,000
$1,475,000
$3,188,550
2021
24
$1,950,000
$1,000,000
$2,950,000
$6,138,550
2022
25
$4,425,000
$4,425,000
$10,563,550
2023
26
$1,260,000
$5,500,000
$6,760,000
$17,323,550
2024
27
$2,260,000
$4,500,000
$6,760,000
$24,083,550
2025
28
$6,760,000
$6,760,000
$30,843,550
Total
$19,143,550
$11,700,000
$30,843,550
$30,843,550
2026
29
$5,096,000
$5,096,000
2027
30
$3,056,000
$1,000,000
$4,056,000
2028
31
$3,056,000
$1,000,000
$4,056,000
2029
32
$3,056,000
$1,000,000
$4,056,000
2030
33
$3,056,000
$1,000,000
$4,056,000
Total
$36,463,550
$15,700,000
$52,163,550

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
8 $19,143,550 $11,700,000 - $30,843,550

Injuries

Year Dates Games Missed Reason
2025-26 TBL Nov 24, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025 0 Undisclosed
2021-22 TBL Dec 17, 2021 - Jan 02, 2022 0 Undisclosed
2021-22 TBL Nov 13, 2021 - May 08, 2021 0 Upper Body
  • Feb 24, 2023 Suspended 2 games for Elbowing Kyle Okposo (BUF), forfeiting $31,892 in 2022-23 salary with Tampa Bay (TB)
  • Jul 13, 2022 Signed an 8 year $41.6 million contract extension with Tampa Bay (TBL)
  • Dec 22, 2020 Signed a 3 year $8.85 million contract with Tampa Bay (TBL)
  • Nov 26, 2019 Suspended 2 games for charging Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) forfeiting $7,500 in 2019-20 salary with Tampa Bay (TB)
  • Feb 26, 2017 Traded to Tampa Bay (TBL) from Los Angeles (LAK) with Peter Budaj , 2017 7th round pick and 2017 pick for Ben Bishop
  • Jul 15, 2015 Signed a 3 year $2.1975 million contract with Los Angeles (LAK)
  • Jun 27, 2015 Drafted by Los Angeles (LAK): Round 2 (#43 overall)

Suspensions

Date Reason Games Suspended Fine Amount
Feb 24, 2023 Elbowing Kyle Okposo (BUF) 2 $31,892
Nov 26, 2019 Hit to the head against Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) 2 $7,500
Suspensions: 2 $39,392
Year Team GP G MIN A PTS +/- SOG S% PPG PPA SHG SHA Blk Hit PIM
2025 TB 40 1 728 6 0 1 34 .029 0 0 0 1 70 76 43
2024 TB 76 3 1,387 18 0 29 64 .047 0 0 0 2 99 157 50
2023 TB 69 2 1,323 11 13 5 53 .038 0 0 0 0 109 189 63
2022 TB 70 2 1,346 14 16 8 87 .023 0 0 1 1 100 209 53
2021 TB 55 1 1,053 12 13 7 86 .012 0 0 0 0 73 165 46
2020 TB 46 5 910 13 18 8 85 .059 0 0 0 0 46 98 38
2019 TB 67 5 1,269 7 12 11 125 .040 0 0 0 0 97 172 59
2018 TB 58 5 1,116 11 16 25 107 .047 1 0 0 0 79 198 58
Top