Could St. Louis Blues Enhance Defense With Lightning FA?

As the second round of the playoffs continues, free agents whose clubs are still in the playoffs have the opportunity to up their value to their current team, and to the management of those who are looking to move some pieces around in the offseason. The St. Louis Blues are not among those clubs who are still in contention for the Cup, but they do number among those who are currently window-shopping, so to speak.

With the upheaval we are certain to see in the St. Louis Blues club come this summer, the Blues are likely have a number of spaces open up for new players not only to shake things up and bring about a change in culture, but hopefully also a change in postseason records.

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This series selects one free agent (restricted or unrestricted) from each team currently still in the race for the Cup and examines how they would fit on the St. Louis Blues, both play-wise and cap-wise.

We’ve looked at what the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals have to offer, and move on now to look at the Tampa Bay Lightning: which players will become RFAs and UFAs upon completion of their season this year? Where would they fit on a team such as St. Louis, and what kind of capital could they command come contract negotiations?

What’s Available

The Lightning won’t have a large crop of pending UFAs or RFAs at the end of the 2014-2015 season, with only Vladislav Namestnikov, Brenden Morrow, Mark Barberio and Andrej Sustr reaching the end of their current contracts. That, of course, is due to the fact that more than half of their 22-man roster will reach UFA or RFA status within the next two seasons, but that is a bridge we will cross when we come to it.

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Morrow leads the pack as both the oldest player at 36, while the others are grouped between 22 and 25, as well as leading the Lightning in PIM this season. He’s reaching the end of his career as an NHL left wing, and while he might be a good pick-up if the Blues are desperate for some veteran leadership in the room, at the moment, they’re not. And despite speculation that a number of the older players are on their way out the door, there are better choices for off-ice leadership than Morrow.

The former Stars captain has one or two years left at best in the NHL, and the Blues knew that when the sent him to the Lightning at the end of last season. He would be a strange (and in my opinion, bad) choice for Armstrong to pick up, but Armstrong has confused Blues supporters before.

Namestnikov is the only other forward in the pack, and he has a lot of potential packed into a 22-year-old, but if the Blues were to acquire him, he’d have to spend a decent amount of time in Chicago developing his eye for goal-scoring opportunities. He plays a strong two-way game, and according to a prospect scouting report by Chris Edwards, “is versatile enough to play a solid game on the wing,” but, again, his scoring game is incredibly low, something all four of these prospective players share.

Tampa Bay wasn’t known for their defense during much of the regular season, but the next two RFAs are very interesting possibilities for the St. Louis Blues.

Barberio, despite making some incredible hair choices, scored a single goal and six assists during his 52 games this season. That was one of his lowest points totals since he played in the QMJHL, but cannot be discounted as a fluke of a season. Barberio struggles at the NHL level, while dominating in assists in the AHL. He has been named to the AHL All-Star team and is talked about as a defenseman who can quarterback the play, and is considered a patient, hard worker by his teammates, but he has not yet shown that quarterback ability at the NHL level.

He was a healthy scratch in Games 1, 2, and 3 against Montreal this series, and while the Blues need to overhaul their defense, whether or not Barberio will bring his game up a level is a gamble, and one the Blues cannot afford to take right now.

Of the four, Sustr interests me the most for a Blues defensive-rebuild, despite his low tally of 0 goals during the regular season.

Andrej Sustr

Mar 7, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr (62) passes the puck against the Dallas Stars during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Sustr, a 24-year-old right-handed defender, is currently ranked first in the League with a +9, and during the regular season, fourth on the Lightning in blocked shots with 84. This is only his second full-length season in the NHL, and wasn’t drafted in 2009 when he became eligible, but rather signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2013. That speaks to a dedication to a high level of play, even after going undrafted.

If the Blues do lose Jackman and his presence on the ice, Sustr, at 6’7″ and 220 lbs will be a force for opposing players to reckon with on their way to the net. He isn’t considered the prettiest skater, but his stick work is impressive enough to create turnovers where there were none and solid breakout passes.

Sustr is not, by any means, an offensive defenseman. He is good at distributing the puck to others and using himself as a wall between his opponents and the net, but prefers to leave the goal-scoring to others. Actually, Barberio scored most of his goals on the Lightning when paired with Sustr, often relying on Sustr’s quick work to prevent a breakout from the offensive zone.

Sustr’s points have only risen with each season since he signed with Tampa Bay.

Sustr’s cap hit comes in at under a million (under $900,000 to be precise) and his lack of offensive production would give the Blues a lot of wiggle room to work with his salary. If Armstrong plays his cards right with Sustr, he could likely sign him for less than $2 million a year over three years, which, if Sustr continues on his upward trajectory in offensive production, could be one heck of a deal for the Blues.

While the Lightning don’t have a bumper crop of free agents this offseason, there’s a decent amount to think about before August hits. Next summer, however, when Steven Stamkos becomes available…that’s a different story.

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