Erik Cernak has signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

@ the TBL

I love Cernak so I think this is an unreal signing. They still are not close to ready for the season but this is a great step.

How do the Lightning do this? They still need to do something to not be over the cap, but still!

Trade incoming or Kuch money but great contract either way

Kuch is injured so maybe LTIR or else trade, they wouldn't sign them if they don't have a plan

Not a steal as people expected, but not a real overpayment either. Fair deal

Good AAV, even better to lock him up for 3 more years. Well done!

Kucherov saved his team through disclosing he needs surgery lul

Without that this was not happening

Still though good contract but when Kucherov returns this team is gonna have to pay to move out someone

$2.95M seems perfectly fair. What was everyone expecting?

Great signing.

Looking forward to Cirelli signing a 4Mx5Y

Worth every penny. I'm still dying to see how Tampa is going to wriggle out of the cap problem and I hope it's not due to a lengthy LTIR list stay for Kucherov.

They will probs have to pay a 1st and a prospect to move Johnsson out when Kucherov returns.

Hope it's to one of my two crummy local teams. We could use the additional gas.

I was hoping for less. But I won’t complain because Cernak is a great defender and an important piece of our future.

Could be wrong but I think they complete the rumored trade of Johnson for Zetterberg (maybe add a pick going to DET), they place Zetterberg on LTIR and then, Kucherov. Like the Leafs did last year with Clarkson from VGK with Horton injured.

I think Philippe Myers' contract is better, but this is in the right range. Bear and Dunn might see similar deals within a week.

Good job he got a little more than I thought but 3 years is well worth it

He's worth around 4 million, and still I'm kind of surprised he didn't sign a 1x1. Good deal though.

Tampa Bay is only allowed to be 10 percent above the 81.5 cap and must be under on opening day. So they are dangerously close to the 89,650,000 (10 percent above) still have to sign Cirelli and be under the cap... with all the NMC, NTC Tampa has who goes? Not like there are a ton of other teams with cap space... Geez I have zero idea how Tampa is going to be cap compliant by opening day. Don't say Kucherov he will be on LTIR for so long then will have to be activated which doesn't alleviate the cap issues they have at all.

Im not sure its gonna happen as a week before that it was Johnsson for Kessler. Than a week later Zetterberg for Johnsson.

I have a feeling if Tampa moves Johnsson its gonna cost them as rn cap space is a weapon

I think this is higher than most people were expecting. I think most people had this at 2.5.

If they activate Kuch by playoff time, then sure, they can do that.

A fair deal.

There really was no threat of an offer sheet after all. All those 2nd round compensation offers in agms were just big memes.

Cernak is one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. No defenseman in Tampa's roster has played against tougher competition than him. This allows for Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev to spend more time in the offensive zone.
Sure, he's not an offensive stalwart, but every aspiring team needs defensive minded defenseman like him to have success and ultimately, win the Stanley Cup. The Tampa Bay Lightning did both.
This is a steal.

I think you're on to something. Obviously they're gonna protect that 1st rounder at all costs so they can use it at the deadline if necessary. TJ is almost an impossible trade. Even Gourde will be super tough to move for decent value.