At the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Los Angeles Kings were without a first-round selection, sent to the Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins/] when they acquired Milan Lucic. The Kings made their first draft selection in the second-round, taking Defenseman Erik Cernak 43rd overall. Less than two years later, Cernak was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/] in exchange for Goaltender Ben Bishop (in a package deal). The idea was to give the Kings a two-headed monster in net with Bishop and Jonathan Quick who was returning from an injury that sidelined him for fifty-nine games. Bishop would only play seven games in a Kings sweater, going 2-3-2 with a 2.49 GAA and a .900 SV%. Cernak, however, will play his four hundredth career NHL game on January 5th, 2025 (all with the Lightning) against the Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/]. It begs the question as to how the Kings' roster would presently be constructed if Cernak were still with the organization. Personally, that's a conversation that results in spinning your tires in the mud. One thing I could definitively say is that Cernak would be an everyday NHL player. I had the pleasure of attending the Kings vs. Lightning regular season matchup up on Saturday (January 4th, 2025) and took the opportunity to scout Cernak. WHAT I LIKED Cernak is a Defenseman. He defends. That's his job and that's what he does well. Throughout the game against LA, he was usually the first man back. The few times he did jump up in the play, Cernak hopped on loose pucks to retain possession in the Offensive Zone. He battled on the boards, stapled the opposition, and moved the puck at opportune moments. Cernak has a level of confidence that only comes with being a regular NHLer. While going to the bench, he skated up alongside a referee, spoke his piece, and then let it go. This is such a minor moment throughout a game that typically gets breezed over. Yet, it shows the growth he's taken as a player, establishing an amicable rapport with the officials. WHAT I DISLIKED A couple timely checks by LA Defenseman Joel Edmundson resulted in Cernak pressed against the boards. Guys are going to take their lumps and sometimes it's good to see a player put themselves in a compromising position to help the team. On the other hand, it's a scenario that could have devastating results. Cernak would lead all Lightning skaters with five SOG. Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Jake Guentzel combined for eight SOG. That tells me the Kings did a nice job of neutralizing the Lightning's star Forwards, forcing other Tampa Bay players to step up and answer the bell. Then, you're on your heels and suspending what you do well which, in Cernak's case, is defending. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Cernak is a sound Defenseman. You can rely on him to play his part and give you a little extra. He won't "wow" you but that's what you need from guys on the backend. Guys who bring the lunch pail and just do their job. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS > Defensively responsible. Board battles, stapling. Not afraid to talk to the > referee(s) on his way back to the bench. Confident in his role as an everyday > NHLer and it shows. Helping his own netminder by clearing players out of the > area. Jumped up in the play to gather a loose puck, got crushed along the > boards. Another hit along the boards, Joel Edmundson really riding him. Good > puck movement while heavily tied up. Defensive Defenseman, good puck mover. > Good positioning near his own net cutting off a passing lane. Very defensively > sound. - Keith Fries - Related Videos: LA Kings Weekly Preview THNLAKKeithFriesWeeklyVideoJan5
