Pardubice looks to dominate Extraliga, sign another ex-NHLer

Dynamo Pardubice is starting to look like it could live up to its name this season. After dominating the Czech Extraliga regular season last year but missing the title by a fraction, the club has gone on a spending spree this off-season and has landed another big name. On Sunday, the club announced the signing of 33-year-old defenseman Andrej Šustr to a one-year contract.

“I know a lot of guys from the past. That makes it easier for me,” Šustr is quoted on the club’s website. “I'm really looking forward to getting started.”

After representing Czechia at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, Šustr took the unusual step (at the time) for a Czech to play U.S. college hockey. After three seasons with the NCAA’s University of Nebraska-Omaha, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lighting in the spring of 2013.

Between 2013 and 2022, Šustr played 362 NHL regular-season games and 46 more in the playoffs, mostly with Tampa Bay but also 28 in two short tours of duty with the Anaheim Ducks. Overall, he picked up 74 points and 199 penalty minutes. He also spent two years in the KHL in the middle of that stretch.

Last season, Šustr played for Kölner Haie in the DEL, recording 20 points and 30 penalty minutes in 44 games.

Somewhat surprisingly, the veteran rearguard has never played in the Extraliga before, as his game was always seen as better suited to the North American game. But Pardubice is looking to get over the hump and club management feels that, at 6-foot-7 and 216 pounds, Šustr might be able to help them do that.

“We believe that Andrej will bring more toughness to our game. He is a very experienced defender, and we believe that he will be useful not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs and all competitions that await us,” said club sports director Petr Sýkora, alluding to the fact that, outside the Extraliga, Pardubice will also compete this season in the Champions Hockey League and the Spengler Cup.

Prior to signing Šustr, Pardubice had already signed Jiří Smejkal and IIHF Male Player of the Year Roman Červenka this summer.