IR
Injury Undisclosed
Est. Return 12/8/2025
2025 Stats
G
0
A
4
PP Pts
0
+/-
0
PIM
21
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
#
Overall
Signed an eight-year, $41.6 million contract extension with the Lightning in July of 2022.
Placed on injured reserve
Cernak (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
ANALYSIS
The Lightning announced Monday that Cernak was considered week-to-week due to an undisclosed injury, so his placement on injured reserve isn't particularly surprising. Declan Carlile and Steve Santini will likely operate on the third defensive pairing in Cernak's absence, while Maxim Groshev was called up from AHL Syracuse on Monday to provide additional depth.
The Lightning announced Monday that Cernak was considered week-to-week due to an undisclosed injury, so his placement on injured reserve isn't particularly surprising. Declan Carlile and Steve Santini will likely operate on the third defensive pairing in Cernak's absence, while Maxim Groshev was called up from AHL Syracuse on Monday to provide additional depth.
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: 19:19
- Average Power Play TOI: 0:06
- Average Short-Handed TOI: 2:56
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2023–24
19:11
0:03
2:49
2024–25
18:16
0:02
2:21
2025–26
19:19
0:06
2:56
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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
Facing multi-week absence
Cernak was deemed week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Bags apple Saturday
Cernak notched an assist and three blocked shots in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Capitals.
ANALYSIS
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Good to go
Cernak (lower body) is expected to play Saturday versus the Capitals, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Game-time decision
Cernak (lower body) will be a game-time decision against Washington on Saturday, per Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley.
ANALYSIS
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Remains out Thursday
Cernak (lower body) isn't available for Thursday's clash against Edmonton, according to Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
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.