2025 Stats
G
0
A
5
PP Pts
0
+/-
1
PIM
41
ROS Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Cernak appeared in a career-high 76 regular-season games in 2024-25, which coincided with him setting a new personal-best in points with 21 (three goals, 18 helpers). The defensive defenseman added 64 shots on goal, 50 PIM, 99 blocked shots, 157 hits and a plus-29 rating. Considering he plays in a shutdown role, the 28-year-old’s offensive production last season was likely his ceiling, but he can make depth contributions in deeper formats that count blocked shots, hits and plus-minus rating. Cernak has recorded at least 198 hits in a season three times in his career, so he could get back to the 200-mark in 2025-26, something he accomplished in 2022-23. Read Past Outlooks
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Overall
Signed an eight-year, $41.6 million contract extension with the Lightning in July of 2022.
Suiting up Monday
Cernak (upper body) is available for Monday's home game against the Mammoth.
ANALYSIS
Cernak was injured Saturday in Columbus and classified as a game-time decision earlier Monday, but he's seemingly no worse for wear after taking a hard hit from Mathieu Olivier. The 28-year-old Cernak will skate on the second pairing next to Declan Carlile versus Utah.
Cernak was injured Saturday in Columbus and classified as a game-time decision earlier Monday, but he's seemingly no worse for wear after taking a hard hit from Mathieu Olivier. The 28-year-old Cernak will skate on the second pairing next to Declan Carlile versus Utah.
NHL Stats
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025 NHL Game Log
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2025–26 Time On Ice Stats
- Average Time On Ice: 18:28
- Average Power Play TOI: 0:05
- Average Short-Handed TOI: 2:33
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2023–24
19:11
0:03
2:49
2024–25
18:16
0:02
2:21
2025–26
18:28
0:05
2:33
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Cernak again missed time for a second straight season, appearing in just 69 of Tampa Bay's 82 regular-season games. He finished with two goals and 13 points, offensive numbers right in line with prior years. Cernak has no fantasy value in standard formats, but he is an asset in leagues which value hits and blocked shots. He's posted roughly 200 hits and 100 blocks each of the past two years, and that's with missing significant time. Cernak's physical style of play leads to injuries, so you may want to look elsewhere for production in those categories on draft day, however.
More Fantasy News
Considered game-time decision
Cernak (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Monday's matchup against Utah, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Hurt in Saturday's game
Cernak (upper body) won't return to Saturday's game versus the Blue Jackets, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Earns first helper since return
Cernak logged an assist, five blocked shots, two hits and two PIM in Monday's 5-1 win over the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
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Off long-term injured reserve
Cernak (hand) was activated off long-term injured reserve and is expected to play Wednesday versus Anaheim, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
ANALYSIS
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Practices Saturday
Cernak (hand) participated in Saturday's morning skate and could be nearing a return to the lineup, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Won't play internationally
Cernak was left off the Slovakia roster for upcoming Olympic qualifying matches, Szymon Szemberg of the Alliance of European Hockey Clubs reports Monday.
ANALYSIS
Cernak last featured for Slovakia back in 2019 at the IIHF World Championship, registering three goals and two assists in seven contests. Without his international commitments, the blueliner can focus on the 2024-25 campaign with the Lightning. Considering that the 27-year-old Cernak has never broken the 20-point threshold in his six-year NHL career, fantasy managers likely don't need to monitor his status during training camp.
Cernak last featured for Slovakia back in 2019 at the IIHF World Championship, registering three goals and two assists in seven contests. Without his international commitments, the blueliner can focus on the 2024-25 campaign with the Lightning. Considering that the 27-year-old Cernak has never broken the 20-point threshold in his six-year NHL career, fantasy managers likely don't need to monitor his status during training camp.