Tampa Bay Lightning sign Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak to eight-year extensions
It’s eight-year contract day in Tampa.
The Lightning announced on Wednesday that they’ve sighed three players — Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak — to eight-year contract extensions.
We've signed Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak each to an eight-year contract extension.https://t.co/xruDCctKWL
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 13, 2022Sergachev’s deal is worth $8.5 million annually, the most of the trio. He’s going into the final year of a three-year contract worth $4.8 million.
The Lightning acquired Sergachev from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jonathan Drouin back in June of 2017. In five seasons with the Lightning, Sergachev has developed into the high-quality defender that he was projected to be when the Habs drafted him No. 9 overall at the 2016 NHL Draft.
Cirelli’s contract is worth $6.25 million annually. Like Sergachev, he’s also going into the final year of a three-year contract worth $4.8 million.
The Lightning selected Cirelli in the third round of the 2015 NHL Draft and he made his NHL debut a couple of years later. Cirelli scored 17 goals and 43 points in 76 games this season and finished fifth in Selke Trophy voting for the league’s best defensive forward.
The Lightning also announced on Wednesday that Cirelli has had surgery done on his shoulder and will miss the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
Cernak’s deal is worth $5.2 million annually. He’s going into the final year of a three-year contract worth $2.95 million.
The Lightning drafted Cernak in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2018-19 and immediately hit the ground running as a quality shutdown defenseman. Cernak often serves as the defensive defender alongside the more offensively-oriented Sergachev.
All three players were set to become restricted free agents next summer.