Erik Cernak — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Erik Cernak is an NHL defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the 2025-26 season Erik Cernak has 3 goals, 8 assists and 11 points in 61 games, worth -2.7 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
Erik Cernak, a 29-year-old defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, has established himself over eight seasons as a steady presence on the blueline. With 502 career games played, he's accumulated 120 points from 26 goals and 94 assists. His peak performance came early in his career, posting a 2.7 GAR in his 2018-19 season, indicating his foundational role.
This season, Cernak has appeared in 61 games, contributing 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points. His current GAR of -2.7 suggests a challenging year, though his primary value driver remains his even-strength defense, contributing +1.4 GAR. He projects as a defensive-minded middle-pair blueliner.
Player Profile
| Position | Defenseman |
|---|---|
| Team | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Shoots / Catches | R |
| Height | 6'4" |
| Weight | 230 lb |
| Draft | 2015 — Round 2, Pick 43 — LAK |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 3 | 8 | 11 | +3 | 74 | 53 | 5.7% | 17:37 | 42.9% | 2.5 | 0.4 | -2.7 | -0.49 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| -0.5 | +1.4 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
League percentile rank: points 22th, GAR 7th, WAR 7th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 61 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -2.7 |
| 2024-25 | 76 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 1.5 |
| 2023-24 | 69 | 2 | 11 | 13 | -1.8 |
| 2022-23 | 70 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 0.6 |
| 2021-22 | 55 | 1 | 12 | 13 | -0.7 |
| 2020-21 | 46 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 2.0 |
| 2019-20 | 67 | 5 | 7 | 12 | -1.0 |
| 2018-19 | 58 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 2.7 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Erik Cernak has been worth -2.7 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 7th percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by even-strength defense (+1.4 GAR), while his even-strength offense grades below replacement (-0.5).
Across 8 tracked seasons his GAR peaked at 2.7 in 2018-19.
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Erik Cernak's GAR this season?
Erik Cernak has been worth -2.7 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 7th percentile of NHL players.
What is Erik Cernak's WAR this season?
Erik Cernak has been worth about -0.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 7th percentile of NHL players. WAR converts GAR to wins at roughly 5.57 goals per win.
How many points does Erik Cernak have this season?
Erik Cernak has 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in 61 games this season.
Is Erik Cernak a good defenseman?
Erik Cernak ranks in the 7th percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (-2.7) in the 2025-26 season.
What is Erik Cernak's career GAR?
Across 8 NHL seasons tracked by Hockey Alchemy, Erik Cernak has accumulated 0.5 career GAR and 120 points.
When was Erik Cernak drafted?
Erik Cernak was drafted in 2015 — Round 2, Pick 43 — LAK.