Day-To-Day
Injury Undisclosed
Est. Return 10/4/2025
2024 Stats
G
3
A
18
PP Pts
0
+/-
29
PIM
50
2025 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

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
Cernak was in and out of the game a couple of times after taking some knocks. There was no update on his status after the contest, but it's possible the Lightning are just taking the proper precautions to have him healthy for the start of the regular season next Thursday versus the Senators.
Cernak was in and out of the game a couple of times after taking some knocks. There was no update on his status after the contest, but it's possible the Lightning are just taking the proper precautions to have him healthy for the start of the regular season next Thursday versus the Senators.
NHL Stats
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2024 NHL Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2024 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
- Average Time On Ice: 18:16
- Average Power Play TOI: 0:02
- Average Short-Handed TOI: 2:21
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
19:14
0:05
2:59
2023–24
19:11
0:03
2:49
2024–25
18:16
0:02
2:21
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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

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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Picks up assist in shootout loss
Cernak notched an assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
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Provides breathing room with goal
Cernak scored a goal, added two hits and blocked two shots in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Flames.
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.