BRANDON — Some ascensions occur rapidly, sometimes out of nowhere.
Others come from a slow and steady climb, often going unnoticed until some of those top rungs are within reach.
Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr falls under the slow, steady category.
Sometimes erratic in his play since being signed as a free agent out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2012 as a 22-year-old, Sustr has started to keep his game on an upward trend.
“He’s come a long way and he’s going to keep getting better,’’ associate coach Rick Bowness said. “He’s gained more and more confidence with the puck and it takes a couple of years for young defensemen in this league.