Overview
- The contract, announced Tuesday, runs through 2027-28 and takes effect immediately.
- The deal pays $775,000, $850,000, and $900,000 at the NHL level across three seasons, with $85,000 per AHL season and $220,000 in signing bonuses.
- Cerrato, the 49th pick in the 2025 draft, left Penn State after a 69-point, two-year run that included Big Ten All-Freshman honors and an injury-shortened sophomore season.
- He joined the AHL Chicago Wolves on a tryout after Penn State's season and logged one Calder Cup playoff game without a point.
- GM Eric Tulsky praised his two-way game and faceoff strength, and outside reports forecast he will open 2026-27 in Chicago rather than on Carolina’s NHL roster.