TAMPA, Fla. — The Lightning’s big splash Wednesday had little to do with the existing free-agent market, but instead ensures the franchise will keep its top, young core players in Lightning sweaters for the long term.
Defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak and center Anthony Cirelli were all slated to become restricted free agents after next season, but the Lightning signed all three to eight-year extensions that will keep them under team control through the 2030-31 season.
Sergachev’s deal is the most lucrative, netting him an average annual value of $8.5 million when it kicks in for the 2023-24 season. Cirelli’s extension is worth an annual average value of $6.25 million and Cernak will make an average of $5.2 million.
