Radim Mrtka, 6'6" RHD drafted 9th overall by Sabres

[Carmel Corn]

Adams trying to negotiate the purchase of an automobile is every car salesman’s dream.  He has no finesse to gain any leverage.  He is limited to playing checkers when all other GM’s are playing 4D chess.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But none are ready now.

Not this year. 

[Derrico]

4 hours ago, shrader said:

There was, what, one player trade yesterday? You’re watching the wrong event for help today. 

Sure but every trade deadline everyone says ‘that’s more of a summer trade.’  Then the summer comes and they do jack ***** every offseason.  

[apointagameov]

Does anyone understand this CHL transfer to NCAA situation thats developing? Why wouldn't someone like Mrtka have anyone discussing moving over to the NCAA to get stronger? Does it have anything to do with being European?

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, apointagameov said:

Does anyone understand this CHL transfer to NCAA situation thats developing? Why wouldn't someone like Mrtka have anyone discussing moving over to the NCAA to get stronger? Does it have anything to do with being European?

Basically all chl players can go to the ncaa now. As long as you're grades and hs stuff is in order and a team wants you, that's all you need. 

Mrtka might want to stay in Seattle though. No idea if he's finished hs yet. He's also going to play more games in Jr's. After the 2025 season college might be something for him. Idk what his AHL eligibility will be. 

[shrader]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Basically all chl players can go to the ncaa now. As long as you're grades and hs stuff is in order and a team wants you, that's all you need. 

Mrtka might want to stay in Seattle though. No idea if he's finished hs yet. He's also going to play more games in Jr's. After the 2025 season college might be something for him. Idk what his AHL eligibility will be. 

If they’re going for one year, their grades don’t have to be in order. Some of the schools may have higher academic standards but they’ve been known to lower them for players in the past. 

[kas23]

27 minutes ago, shrader said:

If they’re going for one year, their grades don’t have to be in order. Some of the schools may have higher academic standards but they’ve been known to lower them for players in the past. 

I think grades are an afterthought for most schools when it comes to college athletes. $$$$>>>>>grades/classes

[LGR4GM]

Idk where it is but someone talked about Mrtka being Power (in a negative) and I don't see that happening. Owen Power defers constantly when playing. He waits for this things to come to him, he is very passive in style, and when he does get aggressive and demand pucks it's just on rushes. The biggest issue Power has isn't physicality, it's his mindset of passive defending. 

Mrtka doesn't defend like that or play offense like that. I don't see a similar style in how they defend or attack. Mrtka and Risto are better comps because mrtka has some bad passes at times and bad reads. Hedman is the other comp I see. There's also a lot of smart play ending skills that end up in breakouts. He's got creative ideas in the offensive zone although, he's not near Hedman level. Basically he's somewhere between the two. 

He only played half a season in NA and on a team he carried. Next year will be fascinating to see how much his game improves. 

[Rasmus_]

9 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk where it is but someone talked about Mrtka being Power (in a negative) and I don't see that happening. Owen Power defers constantly when playing. He waits for this things to come to him, he is very passive in style, and when he does get aggressive and demand pucks it's just on rushes. The biggest issue Power has isn't physicality, it's his mindset of passive defending. 

Mrtka doesn't defend like that or play offense like that. I don't see a similar style in how they defend or attack. Mrtka and Risto are better comps because mrtka has some bad passes at times and bad reads. Hedman is the other comp I see. There's also a lot of smart play ending skills that end up in breakouts. He's got creative ideas in the offensive zone although, he's not near Hedman level. Basically he's somewhere between the two. 

He only played half a season in NA and on a team he carried. Next year will be fascinating to see how much his game improves. 

I agree, I think he's much more comfortable in his own zone and makes an open hit when he needs too.  He did state himself that he needs to incorporate it more into his game. 

[LGR4GM]

One more thing. It's now totally false to talk about 6'5" and 6'6" defenders is some special unique unicorn thing that only comes along once in a blue moon. Maybe 5 or 10yrs ago, but now the league is littered with them. Buffalo has power, Kesselring, Bedkowski, mrtka, and kleber around who fit that category. 

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk where it is but someone talked about Mrtka being Power (in a negative) and I don't see that happening. Owen Power defers constantly when playing. He waits for this things to come to him, he is very passive in style, and when he does get aggressive and demand pucks it's just on rushes. The biggest issue Power has isn't physicality, it's his mindset of passive defending. 

Mrtka doesn't defend like that or play offense like that. I don't see a similar style in how they defend or attack. Mrtka and Risto are better comps because mrtka has some bad passes at times and bad reads. Hedman is the other comp I see. There's also a lot of smart play ending skills that end up in breakouts. He's got creative ideas in the offensive zone although, he's not near Hedman level. Basically he's somewhere between the two. 

He only played half a season in NA and on a team he carried. Next year will be fascinating to see how much his game improves. 

This is a very important note to make with Mrtka. The T-Birds were 8-15-1 when he joined them last season (either worst, or second-to-last place). Ratzlaff was struggling. Cootes was good, but there was no defense. Mrtka joined the team and they went 22-18-4 with him in the lineup -- they were still a young roster on the rebuild after winning the WHL in 2023. Ratzlaff found his game and they scraped their way to an 8 seed.

[Turbo44]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

This is a very important note to make with Mrtka. The T-Birds were 8-15-1 when he joined them last season (either worst, or second-to-last place). Ratzlaff was struggling. Cootes was good, but there was no defense. Mrtka joined the team and they went 22-18-4 with him in the lineup -- they were still a young roster on the rebuild after winning the WHL in 2023. Ratzlaff found his game and they scraped their way to an 8 seed.

Correct and Mrtka average close to 30 minutes a game - he's a beast BUT...... he's 3 years way at least

[dudacek]

Rare admission: Forton said the top 6 went off the board exactly like he predicted it would.

Mtrka was the next player on the Sabres list.

[Jorcus]

3 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Rare admission: Forton said the top 6 went off the board exactly like he predicted it would.

Mtrka was the next player on the Sabres list.

So safe to assume we would have taken him at 7. No lottery regrets?

 

[Flashsabre]

Mrtka, Bedkowski, Strabek, Kleber, Komarov, McCarthy

It really is a crazy collection of RHD prospects.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Flashsabre said:

Mrtka, 6'6" 218lbs

Bedkowski, 6'5" 220lbs

Strabek, 6'2" 203lbs

Kleber, 6'6" 225lbs

Komarov, 6'2" 183lbs

McCarthy, 6'2" 185lbs

It really is a crazy collection of RHD prospects.

Even crazier when none are under 6'2" and 3 are 6'5" or taller. 

[Turbo44]

8 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Even crazier when none are under 6'2" and 3 are 6'5" or taller. 

Perfect opp to Include one in a deal for Robertson

[BullBuchanan]

On 6/27/2025 at 8:05 PM, Mr. Allen said:

I liked Mrtka before we traded away a young STUD to get Kesserling.  He’s now supposed to be our big RHD of the future (you have to assume will resign him long term, if not what a terrible trade).  Then we have big RHD in the pipeline.  And we still have Byram on the roster.  
And at this point you know we can’t sign Bryam long term because that will automatically lock up our top 4 for the next 5 years and the Mrtka pick is a waste. 
Plus, this pick hurts our leverage with trading Byram.  
Like the player, don’t like the pick.  Should’ve went McQueen or Bear. 

The NHL is very fluid. They can always trade someone currently in the top 4 or they can trade Mrtka after he increases his value in the minors. He probably won't be NHL ready for 3+ years anyway.

[Flashsabre]

In an interview Carter Bear said Mrtka is the toughest defender he's had to play against. 

[dudacek]

5 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Even crazier when none are under 6'2" and 3 are 6'5" or taller. 

To me, Komarov looks bigger than 6’2” 183. He’s like a stork or a condor out there with a huge wingspan.

Wonder if those are still his measurements when drafted?