Erik Černák

Erik Černák (born 28 May 1997) is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 2015 NHL entry draft. Černák won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

Playing career Černák began his youth career with HC Košice before playing one season in the junior youth hockey team within the Slovan Bratislava system before returning to HC Košice's youth team on 11 June 2013. He made his senior professional debut with HC Košice in the 2013–14 season. He split the season between HC Košice and Orange 20, the Slovak national junior under-20 team.

After his second year with HC Košice in which he registered 5 goals and 13 points in 43 games, Černák's promising potential was recognized as he was ranked inside the top-twenty prospect skaters eligible for the 2015 NHL entry draft. He and goaltender Matej Tomek were the only Slovak prospects to partake in the NHL draft combine in Buffalo, New York, prior to the draft. On 14 July 2015, Černák signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.

After attending the Kings' 2016 training camp, Černák was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign, training camp. Despite an impressive play at the AHL level, he was returned to junior to play a second season with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Erie Otters for the 2016–17 season. On 26 February 2017, the Kings traded Černák with Peter Budaj and a 2017 seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Ben Bishop and a 2017 fifth-round pick.

On 13 November 2018, Černák made his NHL debut in a 2–1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center. On 19 November, Černák recorded his first NHL point with an assist to Victor Hedman as the Lightning lost 3–2 to the Nashville Predators. On 2 February 2019, Černák recorded his first career NHL goal against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The goal came in a 3–2 Lightning win.

On 22 December 2020, Černák signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract with the Lightning.

On 13 July 2022, Černák signed an eight-year, $41.6 million contract extension with the Lightning.

Personal life Černák is a cousin of Christián Jaroš, who previously played in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 HC Košice SVK U18 37 5 4 9 61 — — — — — 2012–13 HC Slovan Bratislava SVK U18 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 2 2 0 2012–13 HC Slovan Bratislava SVK U20 30 4 6 10 18 12 0 1 1 8 2012–13 HK Orange 20 Slovak.1 8 2 0 2 18 — — — — — 2013–14 HC Košice SVK U20 8 1 3 4 16 — — — — — 2013–14 HC Košice Slovak 13 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 2 2013–14 HK Orange 20 Slovak 20 2 1 3 2 — — — — — 2014–15 HC Košice Slovak 43 5 8 13 16 7 0 1 1 6 2015–16 Erie Otters OHL 41 4 11 15 35 13 0 6 6 10 2016–17 Erie Otters OHL 50 3 18 21 53 22 1 8 9 10 2017–18 Syracuse Crunch AHL 71 5 13 18 70 7 1 1 2 4 2018–19 Syracuse Crunch AHL 9 2 5 7 14 — — — — — 2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 58 5 11 16 58 4 0 3 3 0 2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 67 5 7 12 59 25 0 4 4 12 2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 46 5 13 18 38 21 1 9 10 16 2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 54 1 12 13 46 23 1 1 2 12 2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 70 2 14 16 53 1 0 0 0 2 2023–24 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 69 2 11 13 63 5 0 1 1 2 2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 76 3 18 21 50 5 1 0 1 4 2025–26 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 61 3 8 11 74 7 0 1 1 2 NHL totals 502 26 94 120 441 91 3 19 22 50

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2013 Slovakia U17 10th 5 0 0 0 8 2013 Slovakia WJC18 9th 6 0 2 2 8 2014 Slovakia WJC 8th 5 0 0 0 4 2014 Slovakia WJC18 8th 5 0 0 0 6 2015 Slovakia WJC 6 0 2 2 4 2016 Slovakia WJC 7th 4 0 0 0 2 2017 Slovakia WJC 8th 5 0 1 1 2 2019 Slovakia WC 9th 7 3 2 5 8 2026 Slovakia OG 4th 6 0 1 1 14 Junior totals 36 0 5 5 34 Senior totals 13 3 3 6 22

Awards and honors Award Year Slovakia Champion 2014, 2015 NHL Stanley Cup champion 2020, 2021