Do Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak get along like thieves at the fair? We hope for them. These three players have just signed eight-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Posted at 2:35 p.m.
That in fact, matches and trips between these same three men over the next few years, that. The beauty of it is that together, success has not been rare. As evidenced by those three consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the two rings that resulted.
For the three players, these are contract extensions.
Sergachev, drafted by the Canadian, was already going to receive 4.8 million in 2022-2023. But here he is, receiving 8.5 million per year from 2023 to 2031.
The Russian quickly became a defensive mainstay in Tampa after being traded for Jonathan Drouin by the Habs. In 358 games with the Lightning, he scored 36 goals and had 174 points.
His career in the playoffs is just as brilliant: 92 games in 5 years, during which he scored 30 points. Both in the regular season and during the spring dance, he posted positive goal differentials.
Cirelli will receive 2.95 million next season under his previous contract. Thereafter, the Lightning will pay him 6.25 million annually for eight years.
The Ontario centerman had one of his strong offensive seasons last season, with 43 points in 76 games. In the playoffs, he got 8 points in 23 games.
He was drafted in the third round at the 2015 auction, a year after Sergachev.
But the same year as Erik Cernak, who was selected in the second round. The right-handed defender has also signed an eight-season pact, which will earn him 5.2 million annually until 2031.
The Slovak had 13 points in 55 games last season, before getting only 2 in 23 playoff games.
Namestikov and Cole too
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Vladislav Namestnikov
Minutes later, the Lightning announced one-year-only contract signings for two more players.
Vladislav Namestnikov has been announced to return to the team after being drafted by Tampa in 2011 and playing there until 2018. He signed a one-year contract worth $2.5 million. . Namestnikov played until last year with the Stars.
Just before, the Lightning had indicated that they had agreed with defender Ian Cole. Whoever played last season with the Hurricanes has signed a one-season deal worth $3 million.