Lightning lock up 'proven' players Sergachev, Cirelli, Cernak

The Tampa Bay Lightning's moves on Wednesday had a very familiar flavor.

While much of the NHL was busy welcoming the latest and greatest free agents to their rosters, the Lightning focused on sewing up the contracts of their own, inking a trio of players to eight-year contract extensions.
The Lightning signed defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to a $68 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value), forward Anthony Cirelli to a $50 million contract ($6.25 million AAV), and defenseman Erik Cernak to a $41.6 million contract ($5.2 million AAV).
Each contract will begin with the 2023-24 season.
"I was really, really happy we're able to get that done," Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois said. "They're really good players. They play proven positions. They're only getting better entering their primes, and now they're locked up for a long, long time. So, they're going to be helping us win for a long, long time."
The contracts make sense for the Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 before their bid for a three-peat ended against the Colorado Avalanche in the Cup Final last season. They now have six players locked up through at least the 2027-28 season, including forwards Brayden Point and Nicholas Paul, and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Forward Nikita Kucherov is signed through 2026-27.
For BriseBois, the signings of Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak were crucial, the obvious next phase for keeping together the group that he anticipates will keep the Lightning in contention for years to come.
"I think that's a big part of what we did," Brisebois said. "Going back to [Steven] Stamkos' contract and Victor Hedman's contract (in 2016). Then it was Kuch, and then it was Vasy and Brayden Point. And now these guys. Everyone worked with us when we needed to get bridge deals to keep the cap number a little lower so we can keep as many good players as possible and give ourselves the best chance of winning a championship.
"All of those players cooperated. They all bought into what we're trying to do, and I felt like not only do I want them staying long term with us, I want to know that I have them and know how much they're going to cost so that I know what I have to work with. But also out of respect and appreciation for them working with us in the past, I wanted to work on them early and get it done."
It's a method of doing business that even, sometimes, has the players marveling.
"He's done a lot for this team and for the organization," Sergachev said. "I think we can call him a wizard."

In Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak, the Lightning have locked up a defenseman with top pair potential, an excellent defensive center and a good right-shot defenseman, all needed pieces as they try to stay among the best teams in the NHL.
Sergachev, 24, had 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists) in 78 games last season and 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 23 playoff games. Cirelli, also 24, had 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 76 regular-season games and eight points (three goals, five assists) in 23 playoff games. Cernak, 25, had 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 55 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in 23 playoff games.
"It's great to see him keeping the core together," Sergachev said. "It means a lot to me as a player. Obviously, I want to win. I want to play for the best team possible. He's providing that every year. He's a great GM."
It was a common feeling.
"For [Sergachev and Cernak] to get that as well, very happy knowing that they'll be here for another eight years as well, kind of keeping those guys together," Cirelli said. "We all came in kind of at the same time. It's nice to go through this process with them, know we have each other."
It was clear that BriseBois was committed to this younger core after he traded defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the Nashville Predators on July 3. It was a move that opened both playing responsibility and cap space for the deals that followed on Wednesday.
The idea was that Sergachev was ready to assume some of the role that McDonagh had previously held. It was a show of faith in him and his game.
"It means a lot," Sergachev said. "I've been waiting for more responsibility."
Brisebois made two other signings on Wednesday, adding forward Vladislav Namestnikov and defenseman Ian Cole to a one-year contract each.
But the real prizes were the trio of players who will now settle in for a stay in Tampa until at least the 2030-31 season, with the expectation that they will be playing a lot of playoff hockey between now and then.
"You go down the list with Point, Kuch, Stammer, Heddy, Vasy back there," Cirelli said. "As long as we have those guys, I think we'll be good for a long time."