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Erik Cernak headshot

Erik Cernak contract

DefenseAge 29Tampa Bay Lightning
Cap hit 2026-27
$5.20M$5,200,000
TBLTampa Bay Lightning · Jul 2022 – present
NTCNo-trade clause

8 years · $41.6M total

Year 4 of 8 · expires after 2030-31 as a UFA at age 34

Contract timeline

UFA 2031 · age 34

2026-27 · TBL · Cap hit $5.20M · Salary $5.10M · NTC

Annual pay vs. cap hit

23/24: pay $6,760,000, cap hit $5,200,000$6.76M23/2424/25: pay $6,760,000, cap hit $5,200,000$6.76M24/2525/26: pay $6,760,000, cap hit $5,200,000$6.76M25/2626/27: pay $5,096,000, cap hit $5,200,000$5.10M26/2727/28: pay $4,056,000, cap hit $5,200,000$4.06M27/2828/29: pay $4,056,000, cap hit $5,200,000$4.06M28/2929/30: pay $4,056,000, cap hit $5,200,000$4.06M29/3030/31: pay $4,056,000, cap hit $5,200,000$4.06M30/31
Total pay (darker: salary, lighter: signing bonus) Cap hit

Paid most heavily in the early years: $6.76M from 2023-24 through 2025-26, dropping to $4.06M in the final season.

Year by year

Erik Cernak contract by season
Season2023-242024-252025-262026-272027-282028-292029-302030-31
TeamTBLTBLTBLTBLTBLTBLTBLTBL
Cap hit$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M$5.20M
% of cap6.2%5.9%5.4%5.0%4.6%*cap not set yetcap not set yetcap not set yet
Total salary$6.76M$6.76M$6.76M$5.10M$4.06M$4.06M$4.06M$4.06M
Base salary$1.26M$2.26M$6.76M$5.10M$3.06M$3.06M$3.06M$3.06M
Signing bonus$5.50M$4.50M$0K$0K$1.00M$1.00M$1.00M$1.00M
Perf. bonus$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K$0K
Minors salary$6.76M$6.76M$6.76M$5.10M$4.06M$4.06M$4.06M$4.06M
Clause—NTCNTCNTCM-NTCM-NTCM-NTCM-NTC

* Based on the projected salary cap for that season.

Signed Jul 13, 2022 with TBL. Source announcement

Contract history

TBLStandard · 2020-21 to 2022-233 years · $2.95M AAV · signed Dec 22, 2020
Contract 2020-21 to 2022-23 by season
Season2020-212021-222022-23
TeamTBLTBLTBL
Cap hit$2.95M$2.95M$2.95M
% of cap3.6%3.6%3.6%
Total salary$1.48M$2.95M$4.42M
Base salary$775K$1.95M$4.42M
Signing bonus$700K$1.00M$0K
Perf. bonus$0K$0K$0K
Minors salary$1.48M$2.95M$4.42M
Clause———

Signed Dec 22, 2020 with TBL. Source announcement

LAKEntry-level · 2017-18 to 2019-203 years · $698K AAV · signed Jul 14, 2015
Contract 2017-18 to 2019-20 by season
Season2017-182018-192019-20
TeamTBLTBLTBL
Cap hit$698K$698K$698K
% of capcap not set yet0.9%0.9%
Total salary$743K$650K$700K
Base salary$650K$650K$700K
Signing bonus$93K$0K$0K
Perf. bonus$228K$203K$148K
Minors salary$70K$70K$70K
Clause———

Signed Jul 14, 2015 with LAK. Source announcement