Sabres assign Radim Mrtka to Rochester

[Jorcus]

Mrtka is minimum 2 years from playing on the Sabres and 5 to 7 years from getting meaningful power play time with the Sabres. There are a lot of chances to kill penalties in the AHL. I think the Sabres would rather keep him close by. Better to play 16-20 harder minutes and work your way up the ladder. 

[dudacek]

Mrtka's preseason stats with the Sabres:

• Games: 4
• Goals: 1
• Assists: 1
• Hits: 11
• Shots blocked: 3
• Penalties: 0
• Penalties drawn: 2
• SAF%: 40.51
• GF%: 60
• xGF%: 44.5
• ATOI: 17:45

[Weave]

Twas inevitable.

[The Jokeman]

Keep him as far away from Buffalo for at least two more seasons.

[K-9]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I like this line of thought when it comes to Helenius types - players who have been the stars of their teams all through their formative years.

That’s not Mrtka. He’s a late-blooming poor kid, with not a lot of history as the bell cow. He needs time being leaned on as “the guy” if we want him to develop into “the guy”.

 

I understand, but imo he needs to learn hockey against superior competition more than being a leader at 18. His leadership will develop as his maturity and game develop, anyway. And it’s gonna be a while before he’s “the man” in the pros, regardless. Being a leader in juniors, while nice, still means he has to earn it at the next level as well. 

[Brawndo]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Mrtka's preseason stats with the Sabres:

• Games: 4
• Goals: 1
• Assists: 1
• Hits: 11
• Shots blocked: 3
• Penalties: 0
• Penalties drawn: 2
• SAF%: 40.51
• GF%: 60
• xGF%: 44.5
• ATOI: 17:45

The toughest game he had was on Wednesday against Pittsburgh’s AHL Squad. He was paired with Bryson, who should be in the AHL, and it was a disaster. 

An 18yo defenseman, who does not have the pedigree of a Dahlin or Makar, should probably return to his previous team.  He is going to be a good one, but let him develop properly 
 

My ideal path for him is WHL-play in the WJCs, then report to the Amerks if they are still playing at the end of his year. 
 

2026-27 Season

Amerks and WJCs 

 

2027-28

Amerks and the first call up to the Sabres. 

 

[FrenchConnection44]

3 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

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

Personally, as long as he is getting a reasonable amount of minutes, I prefer him to face the highest level of competition. I think that would give him the most development and the fastest. He appears able to hold his own. 

[LGR4GM]

Mrtka basically played 1.5 good preseason games and here we are. 

[Brawndo]

7 hours 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. 

The biggest thing that gives me pause is the fact that Mrtka played in a men’s league last year that is considered inferior to the AHL and struggled to the point where he was loaned to the WHL. 
 

Let him dominate the WHL for a year as an 18 year old and see what happens.

I like the idea of him being coached by a Leone but that is outweighed by my worry about the rest of the organization. Given the fact they the front office and coaching staff are on the last season of their contracts will decisions they make be what’s best for Mrtka or what’s best for their careers. 

[Pimlach]

I think this is simple.  The kid has played just 43 games in Junior A WHL.  He will not be 19 until this coming season ENDS.   

I would send him back to juniors and expect him to dominate and be a team leader.   The AHL is his next step after that.  

He played a few preseason games for the Sabres against mixed roster competition, not true NHL teams in real games that count.  He did ok but there is no reason to think he is ready for the rigors of professional hockey in North America at age 18.  He needs to play a lot of minutes, not watch others doing it.  
 

I suspect that after a few weeks in Rochester he goes back to Seattle.  

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

I think this is simple.  The kid has played just 43 games in Junior A WHL.  He will not be 19 until this coming season ENDS.   

I would send him back to juniors and expect him to dominate and be a team leader.   The AHL is his next step after that.  

He played a few preseason games for the Sabres against mixed roster competition, not true NHL teams in real games that count.  He did ok but there is no reason to think he is ready for the rigors of professional hockey in North America at age 18.  He needs to play a lot of minutes, not watch others doing it.  
 

I suspect that after a few weeks in Rochester he goes back to Seattle.  

If during his stint in Rochester he demonstrates that he can handle the rigors of the AHL, then keep him there. Let his play be the determining factor. From the little that I’ve seen of him it seems to me that he can handle the challenges, including struggles, of the higher league. One benefit he will have in the AHL that he won’t get in the juniors is mentorship by older players.

[Andrew Amerk]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

If during his stint in Rochester he demonstrates that he can handle the rigors of the AHL, then keep him there. Let his play be the determining factor. From the little that I’ve seen of him it seems to me that he can handle the challenges, including struggles, of the higher league. One benefit he will have in the AHL that he won’t get in the juniors is mentorship by older players.

I would agree with all of this. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

If during his stint in Rochester he demonstrates that he can handle the rigors of the AHL, then keep him there. Let his play be the determining factor. From the little that I’ve seen of him it seems to me that he can handle the challenges, including struggles, of the higher league. One benefit he will have in the AHL that he won’t get in the juniors is mentorship by older players.

Who is that mentor for the Sabres (Rochester)? I mean I know who is on the roster, but who is a good mentor?

The issue for me is simply too much too soon and wearing him down. At his age I personally think big minutes in junior might be better. 

[Andrew Amerk]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Who is that mentor for the Sabres (Rochester)? I mean I know who is on the roster, but who is a good mentor?

The issue for me is simply too much too soon and wearing him down. At his age I personally think big minutes in junior might be better. 

Who would be his “mentor” on the WHL roster?

[JohnC]

23 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Who is that mentor for the Sabres (Rochester)? I mean I know who is on the roster, but who is a good mentor?

The issue for me is simply too much too soon and wearing him down. At his age I personally think big minutes in junior might be better. 

On Rochester, he will be surrounded by players who are more experienced than he is. And as @Andrew Amerk noted, that wouldn’t be the case in the lower league.

Edited 39 minutes ago by JohnC

[K-9]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

I think this is simple.  The kid has played just 43 games in Junior A WHL.  He will not be 19 until this coming season ENDS.   

I would send him back to juniors and expect him to dominate and be a team leader.   The AHL is his next step after that.  

He played a few preseason games for the Sabres against mixed roster competition, not true NHL teams in real games that count.  He did ok but there is no reason to think he is ready for the rigors of professional hockey in North America at age 18.  He needs to play a lot of minutes, not watch others doing it.  
 

I suspect that after a few weeks in Rochester he goes back to Seattle.  

While I agree with sending him to the A first, I doubt the Sabres would hesitate to send him back to juniors if Rochester proves to be too much too soon. 

[shrader]

Personally I would think every top prospect pick around the league would be in the AHL right away if it was an option.