Erik Cernak
D · #81
· Tampa Bay Lightning
· 6'4" · 230 lb
· R-handed
· 29 yrs
· Draft: 2015 Rd 2 (#43 overall)
Compare with
Season
61
Games
3–8–11
G–A–P
53
Shots · 5.7%
107 / 94
Hits / Blocks
Contract
Cap hit
$5,200,000
Term2023-24 → 2030-31 (8 yrs)
ExpiryUFA 2031
Clauses2024-25: NTC; 2025-26: NTC; 2026-27: NTC; 2027-28: M-NTC; 2028-29: M-NTC; 2029-30: M-NTC; 2030-31: M-NTC
Signed at age25
Signing GMJulien BriseBois
AgentCraig Oster
Advanced · 2025-26
Corsi %
48.7%49th
xGF% (5v5)
53.6%78th
Points/60 (5v5)
0.6122nd
Goals Above Expected
+0.359th
Shooting %
5.7%
Ice Time / Game
17:37
Offensive-zone starts
44%
Takeaways / Giveaways
15 / 55
Archetype — how these are computed →
Physical D
A defenseman whose calling card is physicality and shot-blocking, with limited offense.
Why he earned it — his rank vs the league
Hits per 60
7.1
91th
Blocks per 60
6.2
88th
Points per 60
0.72
82th
All fit scores
Fit scores run 0–100: how strongly this player matches each mold, blended from his league
percentiles in that archetype's key stats (the bars above show those percentiles — e.g.
"98th" = better than 98% of the league). A player only earns a tag when the score clears
that archetype's minimum floor — full formulas in
the archetypes guide.
Shots On Goal
By zone · shooting % vs his average · 2025-26Slot
2 G on 5 shots
40%Shooting
Shooting %
Below his avg
Around
Above his avg
53
Total Shots On Goal
Goals
3
Shooting %
5.7%
Shots / GP
0.9
xG
2.5
Shot Danger Mix
High danger6%
Medium danger9%
Low danger85%
Top Scoring Zones
01
40%
Slot
2 G on 5 shots
02
100%
Crease
1 G on 1 shots
Career
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | Playoff GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | OG | Slovakia | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Lightning | 61 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Lightning | 76 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Lightning | 69 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Lightning | 70 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Lightning | 55 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 23 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Lightning | 46 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 21 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Lightning | 67 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 25 |
| 2018-19 | WC | Slovakia | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | — |
| 2018-19 | AHL | Syracuse Crunch | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | — |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Lightning | 58 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | AHL | Syracuse Crunch | 71 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 7 |
| 2016-17 | M-Cup | Erie Otters | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 2016-17 | WJC-20 | Slovakia U20 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2016-17 | OHL | Erie Otters | 50 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 22 |
| 2015-16 | WJC-20 | Slovakia U20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015-16 | OHL | Erie | 41 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 13 |
| 2015-16 | WJ18-A | Slovakia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014-15 | Slovakia | Kosice | 43 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 7 |
| 2013-14 | Slovakia | Kosice | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2013-14 | Slovak-Jr. | Kosice Jr. | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 2013-14 | Slovakia | Slovakia U20 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2012-13 | Slovak-Jr. | Bratislava Jr. | 30 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| 2012-13 | Slovak-2 | Slovakia U20 B | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2011-12 | Svk-U18 | Kosice U18 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 9 | — |
| 2010-11 | Slovakia U16 | HC Kosice U16 | 26 | 9 | 13 | 22 | — |
| 2009-10 | QC Int PW | Slovakia K&B Stars | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |