Cernak's contract has an average annual value of $2.95 million. Rutta's has an AAV of $1.3 million.
Cernak, a 23-year-old restricted free agent, scored 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 67 games with the Lightning last season and had four assists in 25 postseason games to help the Lightning win the Stanley Cup. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 43) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Cernak has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 125 regular-season games and seven assists in 29 postseason games. The Lightning acquired him from the Kings in a trade Feb. 26, 2017.
Rutta was an unrestricted free agent. The 30-year-old scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in 33 games with Tampa Bay last season and had one assist in five postseason games during the Lightning's run to the Cup. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks on June 7, 2017, and acquired by the Lightning in a trade on Jan. 11, 2019. Rutta has 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 127 regular-season games and three assists in nine postseason games.
On Thursday, the Lightning re-signed forward Mathieu Joseph to a two-year, $1.475 million contract ($737,500 AAV) and forward Alexander Volkov to a one-year, $700,000 contract. Each had been a restricted free agent.
Joseph played in 37 games with the Lightning in 2019-20, scoring seven points (four goals, three assists). He did not play during Tampa Bay's run to the Stanley Cup. The 23-year-old has played in 107 NHL games, all with the Lightning, scoring 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists). The Lightning picked Joseph in the fourth round (No. 120) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Volkov, also 23, had one assist in nine regular-season games for Tampa Bay. He made his postseason debut in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars. Volkov did not have a point but drew a penalty that led to a first-period power-play goal in Tampa Bay's 2-0 Cup-clinching victory.
The Lightning selected Volkov in the second round (No. 48) of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Tampa Bay has one remaining unsigned restricted free agent, center Anthony Cirelli. The 23-year-old scored 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 68 regular-season games last season and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 25 postseason games.
