Erik Černák

Erik Černák (born 28 May 1997) is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Černák won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

Erik Černák
Černák with Slovakia in 2015
Born (1997-05-28) 28 May 1997
Košice, Slovakia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Tampa Bay Lightning
HC Košice
National team  Slovakia
NHL Draft 43rd overall, 2015
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2013–present

Playing career

Černák began his youth career with HC Košice before playing one season in the junior youth hockey team within the Slovan Bratislava system before returning to HC Košice's youth team on 11 June 2013.[1] He made his senior professional debut with HC Košice in the 2013–14 season. He split the season between HC Košice and Orange 20, the Slovakian national junior under-20 team.

After his second year with HC Košice in which he registered 5 goals and 13 points in 43 games, Černák's promising potential was recognized as he was ranked just outside the top-ten European prospect skaters eligible for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He and goaltender Matej Tomek were the only Slovakian prospects to partake in the NHL draft combine in Buffalo, New York, prior to the draft.[3] On 14 July 2015, Černák signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.[4]

After attending the Kings' 2016 training camp, Černák was re-assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign, training camp. Despite an impressive play at the AHL level, he was returned to junior to play a second season with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Erie Otters for the 2016–17 season. On 26 February 2017, the Kings traded Černák (along with Peter Budaj and a 2017 seventh-round draft pick) to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Ben Bishop and a 2017 fifth-round pick.[5]

On 13 November 2018, Černák made his NHL debut in a 2–1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center.[6][7] On 19 November, Černák recorded his first NHL point with an assist to Victor Hedman as the Lightning lost 3–2 to the Nashville Predators.[8] On 2 February 2019, Černák recorded his first career NHL goal against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The goal came in a 3–2 Lightning win.[9]

On 22 December 2020, Černák signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract with the Lightning.[10]

On 13 July 2022, Černák signed an eight-year, $41.6 million contract extension with the Lightning.[11]

Personal life

Černák is a cousin of Christián Jaroš, who plays in the New Jersey Devils organization.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 HC Košice SVK U18 37 5 4 9 61 — — — — —
2012–13 HC Slovan Bratislava SVK U18 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 2 0
2012–13 HC Slovan Bratislava SVK U20 30 4 6 10 18 12 0 1 1 8
2012–13 HK Orange 20 Slovak.1 8 2 0 2 18 — — — — —
2013–14 HC Košice SVK U20 8 1 3 4 16 — — — — —
2013–14 HC Košice Slovak 130000 70002
2013–14 HK Orange 20 Slovak 202132 —————
2014–15 HC Košice Slovak 43581316 70116
2015–16 Erie Otters OHL 414111535 1306610
2016–17 Erie Otters OHL 503182153 2218910
2017–18 Syracuse Crunch AHL 715131870 71124
2018–19 Syracuse Crunch AHL 925714 —————
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 585111658 40330
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 67571259 2504412
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 465131838 21191016
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 541121346 2311212
2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 702141653 10002
NHL totals 296 18 57 75 254 74 2 17 19 42
Medal record
Representing  Slovakia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Canada

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Slovakia U17 10th 5 0 0 0 8
2013 Slovakia WJC18 9th 6 0 2 2 8
2014 Slovakia WJC 8th 5 0 0 0 4
2014 Slovakia WJC18 8th 5 0 0 0 6
2015 Slovakia WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 0 2 2 4
2016 Slovakia WJC 7th 4 0 0 0 2
2017 Slovakia WJC 8th 5 0 1 1 2
2019 Slovakia WC 9th 7 3 2 5 8
Junior totals 36 0 5 5 34
Senior totals 7 3 2 5 8

Awards and honors
Award Year
Slovakia
Champion 2014, 2015
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2020, 2021 [13][14]

References
  1. "Kosice announce junior U20 roster" (in Slovak). HC Kosice. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  2. "NHL Central's final rankings". National Hockey League. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. "Colorado eyeing Cernak for 2015 draft". Eurolanche.com. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  4. "Kings sign defenseman Erik Cernak to three-year entry-level contract". Los Angeles Kings. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  5. "Bolts acquire Budaj, Cernak, and picks from Kings". NHL.com. 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  6. Nearhos, Diana (13 November 2018). "Bounces work against Lightning in loss to Sabres". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  7. Nearhos, Diana (14 November 2018). "NHL taste is a 'dream come true' for Lightning's Erik Cernak". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  8. Diamond, Jim (20 November 2018). "Johansen's goal, assist help Predators beat Lightning 3-2". AP News. Retrieved 21 November 2018. Lightning D Erik Cernak picked up the secondary assist on Hedman's goal, registering his first career NHL point.
  9. "Rangers' Rally From 3-0 Deficit Falls Short Against Lightning". The New York Times. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  10. "Lightning re-sign defensemen Erik Cernak, Jan Rutta". NHL.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  11. "Bolts sign Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak to eight-year extensions". NHL.com. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  12. "Devils Acquire Defenseman Christian Jaros from San Jose I RELEASE". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  13. "Tampa Bay Lightning win Stanley Cup in Pandemic Bubble". The New York Times. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  14. "Tampa Bay close out Montreal Canadiens to win second straight Stanley Cup". ESPN. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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