On Tuesday afternoon, Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager, Julien BriseBois announced that the team has re-signed defencemen Erik Cernak, and Jan Rutta.
Cernak signed a three-year contract worth $8.85 million ($2.95 million AAV), while Rutta signed a two-year contract worth $2.6 million ($1.3 million AAV).
Another 🙌
We have also re-signed Jan Rutta for two years worth an AAV of $1.3 million!
📝: https://t.co/4HpXcdRCBf pic.twitter.com/OMoeLlhoY8— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) December 22, 2020
Erik Cernak, 23, was drafted in the second round, 43rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded from LA to Tampa Bay in February of 2017. In 125 regular season games, he has 28 points (10 G, 18 A), 117 penalty minutes, and is a +36. In 29 career playoff games, he's tallied 7 points (7 A), 12 penalty minutes, and is a +/-0.
Jan Rutta, 30, went undrafted, and signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in June of 2017. He was then traded to Tampa Bay in January of 2019. In 127 regular season games, Rutta has 35 points (9 G, 26 A), 54 penalty minutes, and is a +9. In 9 career playoff games, he has 3 points (3 A), 12 penalty minutes, and is a +2.
Both Cernak and Rutta were member of the Lightning during their 2020 Stanley Cup victory.
