2025 Stats
G
0
A
0
PP Pts
0
+/-
-1
PIM
4
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 Thursday
Cernak (undisclosed) will play Thursday versus the Senators, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Cernak missed some time late in the preseason due to his injury. The 28-year-old is set to serve as a shutdown defenseman on the Lightning's second pairing. His heavy playing style can be useful in deeper fantasy formats, but he is injury prone because of it.
Cernak missed some time late in the preseason due to his injury. The 28-year-old is set to serve as a shutdown defenseman on the Lightning's second pairing. His heavy playing style can be useful in deeper fantasy formats, but he is injury prone because of it.
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: 19:32
- Average Power Play TOI: 0:01
- Average Short-Handed TOI: 3:35
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2023–24
19:11
0:03
2:49
2024–25
18:16
0:02
2:21
2025–26
19:32
0:01
3:35
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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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
Out Saturday
Cernak (undisclosed) is set to miss Saturday's preseason game against Florida, per Lightning radio announcer Dave Mishkin.
ANALYSIS
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Misses third period Thursday
Cernak (undisclosed) did not play in the third period of Thursday's preseason game versus the Panthers, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
ANALYSIS
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Buries goal in loss
Cernak scored a goal on three shots, added five hits and blocked three shots in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Panthers in Game 4.
ANALYSIS
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Set to return
Cernak (undisclosed) is expected to play Thursday versus Utah.
ANALYSIS
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Injured in Tuesday's game
Cernak (undisclosed) won't return to Tuesday's game versus the Penguins.
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.