Lightning Extend Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak

The Tampa Bay Lightning were busy bees on July 13th. Tampa Bay announced they have re-signed three key players to their Stanley Cup Championship teams. Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak, and Anthony Cirelli all received eight-year deals. The Lightning also signed Ian Cole and Vladislav Namestnikov to one-year deals. These deals are in addition to the Nick Paul extension announced prior to the NHL Draft.

Tampa Bay announced that Sergachev will get $8.5 million a season, making him the highest-paid defenceman on the Lightning. Meanwhile, Cirelli will make $6.25 million a season, while Cernak will make $5.2 million a season. The two free agents the Lightning signed Cole to a $3 million contract, with Namestnikov signing a $2.5 million contract.

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, 2022

Lightning Lock Up Mikhail Sergachev and Two Others

The Lightning were in the market to make some moves this off-season. It all started with the Ryan McDonagh trade to Nashville. Though GM Julien BriseBois really loved this defenceman, he knew he had to play salary cap gymnastics to get his core locked up. Once the trade for McDonagh happened, Sergachev was in line for a pay raise. He will fall right behind Victor Hedman on the depth chart, despite making more than Hedman. Sergachev takes over McDonagh’s spot on the second pair.

Sergachev was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for Jonathan Drouin. Since arriving he has provided the Lightning with a strong puck-moving and two-way game for the Lightning en route to three final appearances and two Stanley Cups. In 362 career regular season games, 358 of them with the Lightning, notching 36 goals and 174 points.

One of the reasons why Mikhail Sergachev has been successful in Tampa Bay is because of his partner Erik Cernak. With Sergachev staying for eight more seasons, so is Cernak as now the Lightning have their top 4 locked up. Cernak was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. The Lightning acquired him in 2017. In 226 career regular season games, Cernak has 59 points (16 goals and 63 assists). In 55 games this season, Cernak only had 13 points. But Cernak is a defensive defenceman while Sergachev is offensively minded, whose defensive game is getting better.

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In addition, the Lightning extended Anthony Cirelli, who took major strides with the Lightning this season. With Brayden Point out of the lineup, Cirelli filled into the second-line center role alongside Alex Killorn and Brandon Hagel. Cirelli recorded 43 points (17 goals and 26 assists) in 76 games this season with the Lightning. He has turned into a Selke trophy player as he finished fifth in the voting. While he did not have productive postseason, Cirelli mostly played a defensive role with Killorn and Hagel. In 92 career postseason games, Cirelli has 34 points (14 goals and 20 assists).

Going Forward

The Lightning also signed Ian Cole and Vladislav Namestnikov to fill out their team. Their contracts do not allow them to bring back Ondrej Palat. Palat has been a key piece for the Lightning in their current run. that includes two Stanley Cups. If Julien BriseBois wants to bring him back, then others have to be moved out. However, BriseBois locks up three players who would be RFAs next season and were due new contracts.

The Lightning feel their window is still open to win. The losses of potentially and Palat and McDonagh will make it difficult for them with the Atlantic Division getting better.