Sabres assign Radim Mrtka to Rochester

[Brawndo]

Per Sabres PR

[K-9]

Best place for him. 

[JohnC]

8 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Best place for him. 

What's impressive about Mrtka is that in his brief exposure to NHL play is that when watching him you never got the sense that he was overwhelmed and didn't belong. Clearly, he needs more experience but he's a legitimate prospect who will be playing in the NHL in the near future. 

[Brawndo]

The best part is he can still go to Seattle in the WHL if needed. 
 

He needs top pairing minutes, be on the power play and/or the penalty kill where ever he plays this season 
 

Give him a few weeks in Rochester but if he is going to be a 3rd pairing D for the Amerks, Seattle is a better place for him 

Edited 1 hour ago by Brawndo

[pastajoe]

I wouldn’t be surprised if they just have him practice with the team for the week and then send him back to Seattle.

[Pimlach]

He is 18 and drafted from the WHL juniors.  Is his time in Rochester limited?  It must be. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Pimlach

[Brawndo]

2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

He is 18 and drafted from the WHL juniors.  Is his time in Rochester limited?  

No he was a European Transfer to the Seattle so the NHL CHL Rules do not apply to him 

[That Aud Smell]

4 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

The best part is he can still go to Seattle in the WHL if needed. 
 

He needs top pairing minutes, be on the power play and/or the penalty kill where ever he plays this season 
 

Give him a few weeks in Rochester but if he is going to be a 3rd pairing D for the Amerks, Seattle is a better place for him 

Chad D says it’d be bad to go from AHL to WHL. Myself, I have no clue.

 

[Pimlach]

Just now, Brawndo said:

No he was a European Transfer to the Seattle so the NHL CHL Rules do not apply to him 

Ok. Thanks.  

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

The best part is he can still go to Seattle in the WHL if needed. 
 

He needs top pairing minutes, be on the power play and/or the penalty kill where ever he plays this season 
 

Give him a few weeks in Rochester but if he is going to be a 3rd pairing D for the Amerks, Seattle is a better place for him 

Your position makes a lot of sense. However, I think that playing with older and better players, even as a lower pairing player, would be better preparation for him. I also think that the better training facilities and traveling accommodations will better serve him. 

[dudacek]

Looks like he’s good enough, and physically ready.

He needs to be playing significant minutes and situations, not watching Metsa and Komarov.

I’m trepidatious, but I trust Leone more than anyone else on staff.

[That Aud Smell]

Okay - so I see that the essential concern is: We (many?) want him at 26+ minutes per game playing in all situations.

Will he get that in Roch?

Maybe, maybe not.

I’d guess: Most certainly not.

Good convo here:

 

[Brawndo]

10 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Your position makes a lot of sense. However, I think that playing with older and better players, even as a lower pairing player, would be better preparation for him. I also think that the better training facilities and traveling accommodations will better serve him. 

He is a June Birthday and just turned 18 and has played total of 43 games in North America. 
 

The primary reason he come over to Seattle was his lack of playing time in the Czech League. 
 

I agree with @dudacek about Leone. 

[mjd1001]

40 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

He is 18 and drafted from the WHL juniors.  Is his time in Rochester limited?  It must be. 

The question is, would he be better served getting 20 minutes in Seattle? Or 16 in Rochester?

[JohnC]

12 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

He is a June Birthday and just turned 18 and has played total of 43 games in North America. 
 

The primary reason he come over to Seattle was his lack of playing time in the Czech League. 
 

I agree with @dudacek about Leone. 

This issue is a judgment call. However, I see it differently. What happens if he plays well in the AHL? From the little that I have seen playing with a higher level of talent, it doesn't appear to have hurt him. In fact, I would argue otherwise, that it has and will accelerate his development. Is he an exception to the rule regarding the handling young prospects? I think so yet understand why others don't in this particular case. 

[SwampD]

52 minutes ago, JohnC said:

What's impressive about Mrtka is that in his brief exposure to NHL play is that when watching him you never got the sense that he was overwhelmed and didn't belong. Clearly, he needs more experience but he's a legitimate prospect who will be playing in the NHL in the near future. 

I disagree with this. He made some nice plays that give me hope for the future with him. But he lost way too many 50/50 board battles for me to say he belonged in the NHL now.

Edited 27 minutes ago by SwampD

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

The question is, would he be better served getting 20 minutes in Seattle? Or 16 in Rochester?

He gets 30min in Seattle. 

Idc that much is they give him pk and pp time in Rochester. He needs about 22-25min a night

[dudacek]

6 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

The question is, would he be better served getting 20 minutes in Seattle? Or 16 in Rochester?

He should not be getting 16 in roster.

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, SwampD said:

I disagree with this. He made some nice plays that give me hope for the future with him. But he lost way too many 50/50 board battles for me to say he belonged in the HNL now.

I didn't say that he should be on the team now. What I did say is that when watching him I didn't get the sense that he was overwhelmed like a lot of young players would be with their first exposure to the highest level of play. 

[SwampD]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I didn't say that he should be on the team now. What I did say is that when watching him I didn't get the sense that he was overwhelmed like a lot of young players would be with their first exposure to the highest level of play. 

I know what you said,… and I disagree. I think he was overwhelmed and didn’t belong.

Luckily, he’s only 18.

[That Aud Smell]

23 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I disagree with this. He made some nice plays that give me hope for the future with him. But he lost way too many 50/50 board battles for me to say he belonged in the NHL now.

seems like board play has never been more important in the NHL than it is today.

[DarthEbriate]

If he’s on Seattle (and so is Cootes) then they’re a playoff contender and Mrtka is a team leader skating 27+ each night.

If he’s on the Amerks, just pair him with waived and cleared NHL veteran Bryson and let the kid shine in second pair work.