Yes, I think so. We need to make room in Syracuse with DeAngelo coming onboard and Syracuse playing Blujus and Dotchin on the right side. I'm of the opinion both Sustr and Witkowski come back to the Lightning and will battle for the #6 spot in the lineup and the other will be the healthy scratch. Both Sustr & Witkowski are RFAs so they'll come back on the cheap and hopefully their battle takes their games to new heights. I was very impressed with Witkowski's game against the Bruins. He was exactly what was needed to even up the physicality factor. Went head to head against Lucic physically - didn't back down and stepped up leading the team with 8 hits - some of them of the CRUSHING variety.
I tend to lean towards Witkowski over Sustr in the short term. Witkowski is more effective physical presence. Better on the boards, better in front of the net, better at protecting his undersized teammates, and a better hitter. Mobility and reach might factor in favor of Sustr. Sustr of the two-way variety and Witkowski of the more defensive minded defensemen. However, it is still too early to give up on Sustr. He has 20 games of AHL experience and 1.5 seasons of NHL experience...and was thrust into the number #1D pairing several times looking completely average as he should with less than 100 games of experience under his belt. I don't see the organization giving up on Sustr with the limited experience he has had at the pro level. How many people gave up on Hedman as a bust...patience might just prove everyone wrong about Sustr. Especially if he can gain those aformentioned 15 to 20 lbs - he is 220 to 225 lbs now. If he can gain another 20 lbs or so and keep his mobility to improve his board and crease play - this might just be a great find on Tampa's blue line.
Witkowski vs Sustr for the #6 RHD position with Carle as their likely pairing teammate is a good conversation to have. DeAngelo will be in Syracuse next year, I have no doubts about that. For playoff and physical hockey...no doubt I'd want Witkowski on my side if I have to go to war.
I don't see where Sustr is going to find skills to make him all that much better in the long run. He'll make better decisions, but his skillset is his skillset, and it's below average. I do agree that Witkowski and Sustr will battle for the #6 slot, but whether or not Witko sticks with the team depends on how many defensemen we carry, and what happens in the off-season.
I think it's safe to say that most of us are assuming Barberio is gone after this year. If he's still with the team come September, that makes Witkowski's path to the NHL pretty tough, because Barbs and Nesterov are still ahead of him. If we move Barbs*, it comes down to whether or not Coop wants to carry 7 D or 8 D, because you have to think Nesterov will be winning the #7 role.
But I guess the X-factor in all this is Matt Carle. It's not even an argument that he's overpaid in his newly reduced role, even if he is pretty effective in it most of the time. But do we want a guy like Nesterov behind him on the left side, getting very little playing time? Especially when you consider how close to NHL-ready Koekkoek appears, and how capable he is of providing left side depth.
If we move both Carle and Barbs, then the picture gets pretty clear, and a lot more ideal (IMO):
1L: Hedman 1R: Stralman
2L: Garrison 2R: Coburn
3L: Nesterov 3R: Sustr (...ugh)
#7: Witkowski
L Call-up: Koekkoek
R Call-up: DeAngelo, Blujus, Dotchin
If we wanted to carry eight D, it might be better to keep Barbs around than Carle, or sign a cheap vet. I just don't have much issue with giving Nesterov a regular slot next year.
EDIT: *Accidentally said Nesterov initially when I meant Barbs.