Ducks swap Andrej Sustr for Sharks forward Andrew Aggozzino

Pacific Division rivals struck a deal on Tuesday when the Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Andrej Sustr for San Jose Sharks forward Andrew Agozzino.

Neither player has been a regular NHLer in recent years. Sustr, who once suited up nightly for the Tampa Bay Lightning, has been relegated to an AHL role after a two-year hiatus from North America in the KHL. Agozzino has been a two-way swing player during his pro career.

Though neither Sustr nor Agozzino will change a lineup, they bring valuable pro experience to AHL affiliates and can fill out an NHL roster in a pinch.

The 32-year-old Agozzino especially has life left in his legs; last year, he scored 3 points in 4 games for the Sharks after a 26-goal, 61-point campaign with the AHL San Jose Barracuda. 

Agozzino played in the Ducks’ organization from 2019-2021 and played 7 times for the big club. He should add scoring punch to the San Diego Gulls, where he notched 14 goals and 27 points in 2020-2021. 

Agozzino has had two All-Star appearances in an impressive AHL career, during which he has scored over 200 goals and 500 points.

As for Sustr, also 32, the trade continues an odyssey since leaving Tampa, where he went to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. He ended his third stint in Anaheim without having played an NHL game.

The Sharks will hope Sustr can mentor defensive prospects like Andrew Thrun and Shakir Mukhamadulin should those two pass through the AHL, but the 6 ‘8 Czech’s days as a regular player are long past.

Sustr is the second trade acquisition of the day for Sharks’ GM Mike Grier, who acquired Devils’ goalie Mackenzie Blackwood in an earlier deal.

Anaheim and San Jose will each use this offseason to try and stockpile relevant NHL pros during their respective rebuilds. They were the first and fourth-worst teams in the NHL last season, respectively.