This deal doesn't look like a huge vote of confidence to me. It seems kind of the opposite. They're keeping him around without actually making much of a commitment.
Chicago didn't even play their bottom pairing guys. Sustr only looks worse than your average #6 because Coop flattens icetime so much that it leaves him exposed. (I say that as a guy who doesn't really think much of Sustr, but thinks this is a good deal anyway.)
Agreed. This is a "you have to prove to us you belong here" kind of deal. No commitment from the Lightning, except for a slight raise. Not buying any UFA years means modest raise, and if he should improve drastically they still own his rights. If he doesn't he would be easy to trade, or waive.
In my opinion this is a solid deal for the Lightning. I see no risk here, at all.