| Erik Černák | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Černák withSlovakia in 2015 | |||
| Born | (1997-05-28)28 May 1997 (age 28) 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 | ||
Erik Černák (born 28 May 1997) is a Slovak professionalice hockeydefenceman for theTampa Bay Lightning of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by theLos Angeles Kings in the second round, 43rd overall, in the2015 NHL entry draft. Černák won back-to-backStanley Cup championships with the Lightning in2020 and2021.
Černák began his youth career withHC Košice before playing one season in the junior youth hockey team within theSlovan 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 the2013–14 season. He split the season between HC Košice andOrange 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 the2015 NHL entry draft.[2] He and goaltender Matej Tomek were the only Slovakian prospects to partake in the NHL draft combine inBuffalo, New York, prior to the draft.[3] On 14 July 2015, Černák signed a three-year, entry-level contract with theLos Angeles Kings of theNational Hockey League.[4]
After attending the Kings' 2016 training camp, Černák was reassigned to theirAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theOntario Reign, training camp. Despite an impressive play at the AHL level, he was returned to junior to play a second season with theOntario Hockey League (OHL)'sErie Otters for the2016–17 season. On 26 February 2017, the Kings traded Černák withPeter Budaj and a2017 seventh-round draft pick to theTampa Bay Lightning for goaltenderBen Bishop and a 2017 fifth-round pick.[5]
On 13 November 2018, Černák made his NHL debut in a 2–1 defeat to theBuffalo Sabres at theKeyBank Center.[6][7] On 19 November, Černák recorded his first NHL point with an assist toVictor Hedman as the Lightning lost 3–2 to theNashville Predators.[8] On 2 February 2019, Černák recorded his first career NHL goal against theNew York Rangers atMadison 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]
Černák is a cousin ofChristián Jaroš, who previously played in the NHL for theOttawa Senators,San Jose Sharks andNew Jersey Devils.[12]
| 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 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | HK Orange 20 | Slovak | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | HC Košice | Slovak | 43 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Erie Otters | OHL | 41 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 2016–17 | Erie Otters | OHL | 50 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 53 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||
| 2017–18 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 71 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 70 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2018–19 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 58 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 67 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 59 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 46 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 38 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 16 | ||
| 2021–22 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 54 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 46 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2022–23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 70 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 69 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 76 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 50 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 441 | 23 | 86 | 109 | 367 | 84 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 48 | ||||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Slovakia | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2015 Canada | |
| 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 |  | 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 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | ||
| Champion | 2014,2015 | |
| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2020,2021 | [13][14] |
Lightning D Erik Cernak picked up the secondary assist on Hedman's goal, registering his first career NHL point.