Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Two FA Defensemen

The Tampa Bay Lightning have begun to take care of some inevitable business as the team has signed free-agent defensemen, Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta.

We brought you the reports earlier this week regarding the Lightning's cap problems, and how an injury to Nikita Kucherov was going to help their cause, and it hasn't taken long for the team to go to work.

Big News Out of Tampa Bay!!! 💥👀👇https://t.co/QAHUJLJvYL

— NHL Trade Rumors (@NHLTradeRumors) December 21, 2020

As for the numbers, Cernak's deal is a three-year contract that pays the towering right-hander an average annual value of $2.95 million on the cap.  Rutta on the other hand was an unrestricted free agent who was mulling over a few offers from other teams and has decided to make his way back to Tampa. He signed for one year at $1.3 million. 

Cernak is 23, and last season tallied 12 points in 67 regular season games and added four more points in the playoffs. His steady play defensively is what stood out to the Lightning management and makes him a valuable piece to their core of their team.

Rutta on the other hand is 30, and appeared in 33 games last season, collecting seven points. The Czech Republic native also showed face in nine playoff games for the championship Lightning squad.

The team still has forward Anthony Cirelli to sign and unless Kucherov makes his way to LTIR, expect a trade of either Tyler Johnson or Alex Killorn first, before a deal can be announced.

Photo credit: Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire