John Gove: Lightning Round: Sustr, Gourde, Qualifying Offers, HOF

About time for Dave Andreychuk, so congrats to him. As for Sustr, while I know many consider him a poor defender, and he can be a turn over machine and make head scratching mistakes, it seems he still hasn't reached his potential. And you can't teach that kind of size. If he ever gets his head on right and calms down on the ice, he could become a solid D man for the Bolts. Could.

About time for Dave Andreychuk, so congrats to him. As for Sustr, while I know many consider him a poor defender, and he can be a turn over machine and make head scratching mistakes, it seems he still hasn't reached his potential. And you can't teach that kind of size. If he ever gets his head on right and calms down on the ice, he could become a solid D man for the Bolts. Could.
- Gator5000e

I'd buy it if he wasn't ~300 games into his NHL career and turning 27 years old early this season. He's older than 77.

The Sustr signing is puzzling. We already have 7 defenseman:
Hedmen
Stralman
Coburn
Dotchin
Koekkoek
Sustr
Sergachev

Yzerman appears to be out looking for a top 4 dmen in FA which would give us 8 dmen. Are we really going to carry 8 defenseman? Sergachev says he's done with juniors and I believe he will be pissed if we send him back there. Maybe Yzerman will trade Koekkoek or Dotchin for top 9 Fwd help? I'm ok with Sustr being our 7th defenseman.

I'd buy it if he wasn't ~300 games into his NHL career and turning 27 years old early this season. He's older than 77.
- Michael_Stuart

Agreed. If Sustr had anything else to show, we would have seen it by now.

He's Cory Cross Part Two, Electric Boogaloo.

A total waste of money. But, I guess he was signed because it was relatively cheap, short term, and we know what we are getting. He's likely just some insurance in case we have another visit from the injury bug.

I hope he is gone next season.

Is Stamkos still alive or nah?

Is Stamkos still alive or nah?
- Streit2ThePoint

Latest I heard he got a leg chopped off by a white shark. Out til christmas.

About time for Dave Andreychuk, so congrats to him. As for Sustr, while I know many consider him a poor defender, and he can be a turn over machine and make head scratching mistakes, it seems he still hasn't reached his potential. And you can't teach that kind of size. If he ever gets his head on right and calms down on the ice, he could become a solid D man for the Bolts. Could.
- Gator5000e

His biggest issue is footspeed. Puck retrieval in the zone is non-existent which is why his pair gets hemmed in the d-zone so much. He needs to works on his skating quickness and maybe he can become serviceable, but as it is his 6'7" wingspan is not able to overcome his lack of skating

I can see why they resigned Sustr, he is a known commodity and fits for them to be a 3rd pair guy or 7th D-man.

I also think if Yzerman ends up trading for a D-man he will use one of Koekkoek or Dotchin in the trade because they are cost controlled and that means a lot to teams like Minnesota who are very tight to the cap trying to sign their players. I could see a 2018 2nd and Koekkoek for Marco Scandella happening.

I could see a 2018 2nd and Koekkoek for Marco Scandella happening.
- stammerman

No thanks, I'd rather keep Koekkoek

No thanks, I'd rather keep Koekkoek
- ctcork

Not saying I want that but I can see something like that happening. I hope they don't get Shattenkirk, he will be a mistake in my opinion.

Now the report is that Girardi could be the option they're looking at. I'm out. It's been fun cheering for this team.

Now the report is that Girardi could be the option they're looking at. I'm out. It's been fun cheering for this team.
- Michael_Stuart

If they sign him he better be a 1M stop gap until Koekkoek, Dotchin, and Sergachev prove they are full timers 100% and Girardi rides the pine. Other then that this would be horrible.

Now the report is that Girardi could be the option they're looking at. I'm out. It's been fun cheering for this team.
- Michael_Stuart

Girardi is awful. I hope we are smart enough to stay away from that. Of course, we did just re-sign Sustr, so I am starting to wonder if Stevie Y is high or something.