Sabres assign Radim Mrtka to Rochester

[Brawndo]

Mike Leone mentioned today that the decision between the AHL-WHL for Mrtka is day to day 

[dudacek]

16 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Mike Leone mentioned today that the decision between the AHL-WHL for Mrtka is day to day 

I wonder if their thinking is kinda like some of ours: “if you’re going to use him a lot Mike, you can keep him. If not, we’ll send him down.”

Edited Wednesday at 01:37 PM by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

16 hours ago, dudacek said:

I wonder if their thinking is kinda like some of ours: “if you’re going to use him a lot Mike, you can keep him. I’d not, we’ll send him down.”

Seems be where this group landed. I have faith in Leone. Also Prospal, need more of him. 

[DarthEbriate]

16 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Mike Leone mentioned today that the decision between the AHL-WHL for Mrtka is day to day 

We've seen with this organization that that can change to week-to-week very quickly.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

We've seen with this organization that that can change to week-to-week very quickly.

How the player plays will determine how he will be handled. 

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Seems be where this group landed. I have faith in Leone. Also Prospal, need more of him. 

Nothing to do with Mrtka, but really hoping Leone leap frogs Appert in the succession planning.  Not positive Leone will be great at the next level, but it's possible.  Appert is clueless.

[Porous Five Hole]

Just now, Taro T said:

Nothing to do with Mrtka, but really hoping Leone leap frogs Appert in the succession planning.  Not positive Leone will be great at the next level, but it's possible.  Appert is clueless.

I’m joking here, but wouldn’t promoting Appert get him off of special teams, which would enhance the team? 

[Taro T]

9 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I’m joking here, but wouldn’t promoting Appert get him off of special teams, which would enhance the team? 

Realize that you were joking; but seriously, if they decide they want Appert they might as well just bring Granato back.  They ran the same "system" when they were each in charge of a team; the only difference being Granato actually understood what it was he was trying to accomplish and the why of it.  (Not saying the why was correct; but he at least had one.)

[DarthEbriate]

If Leone gets the Amerks deep in the playoffs again (entirely possible given the roster), he could get looks for other NHL bench positions next season -- or another AHL head coaching job where the heir-apparent in Appert isn't presumably identified.

But, if Ruff retires (I expect) and Appert becomes HC (ditto), then Leone could be the Sabres head coach in a season or two anyway. 

[Taro T]

Just now, DarthEbriate said:

If Leone gets the Amerks deep in the playoffs again (entirely possible given the roster), he could get looks for other NHL bench positions next season -- or another AHL head coaching job where the heir-apparent in Appert isn't presumably identified.

But, if Ruff retires (I expect) and Appert becomes HC (ditto), then Leone could be the Sabres head coach in a season or two anyway. 

Awesome, so only a couple more throwaway seasons before they get serious.  😡

[DarthEbriate]

20 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Awesome, so only a couple more throwaway seasons before they get serious.  😡

Just as serious as the head coaching search and interview process when replacing Granato.

[inkman]

Got my tickets for Friday, hopefully Radim is on the team and in the lineup. 

[kas23]

6 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I’m joking here, but wouldn’t promoting Appert get him off of special teams, which would enhance the team? 

This is a real thing in the Corporate world. People who are killing it will get raises, but are usually kept at what they excel at. The ones who suck, get promoted. 

[LabattBlue]

7 hours ago, Taro T said:

Nothing to do with Mrtka, but really hoping Leone leap frogs Appert in the succession planning.  Not positive Leone will be great at the next level, but it's possible.  Appert is clueless.

Have no fear…even if Leone is hired as HC, Appert and Wilford will still be assistants, and Bryson will still be 7D. 😂

 

Sorry for derailing this thread.  

Edited Wednesday at 11:57 PM by LabattBlue

[GoPuckYourself]

On 10/4/2025 at 10:06 AM, 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 

He needs to earn power play, penalty kill, top pairing. 

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

He needs to earn power play, penalty kill, top pairing. 

Right and if he doesn't, back to Seattle. 

[GoPuckYourself]

11 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Right and if he doesn't, back to Seattle. 

Agree, stop giving these kids everything thats why they don't try night in and night out because they're all handed everything accept for Benson he earned that spot. I'm expecting a big jump in play this season for Benson.

[K-9]

According to Duffer, Mrtka is paired with Rathbone tonight. I don’t mind that. 

[DarthEbriate]

On 10/9/2025 at 5:44 AM, GoPuckYourself said:

Agree, stop giving these kids everything thats why they don't try night in and night out because they're all handed everything accept for Benson he earned that spot. I'm expecting a big jump in play this season for Benson.

Benson did earn the spot, but he shouldn't have been given the easy opportunity. Sign a veteran middle six guy (Tarasenko, Gustav Nyqvist, etc.) to replace Quinn until he's healthy, and then trade VO with retention for ... whatever, seeing as how the coach no longer believed in him.

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

Benson did earn the spot, but he shouldn't have been given the easy opportunity. Sign a veteran middle six guy (Tarasenko, Gustav Nyqvist, etc.) to replace Quinn until he's healthy, and then trade VO with retention for ... whatever, seeing as how the coach no longer believed in him.

Right but he earned it with the players we had. Quinn continues to be average yet he’s on every line. I’d rather try some of these Rochester kids than seeing Quinn give up pucks, whiff on shots, no physical game at all and not good at clearing out pucks.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Right but he earned it with the players we had. Quinn continues to be average yet he’s on every line. I’d rather try some of these Rochester kids than seeing Quinn give up pucks, whiff on shots, no physical game at all and not good at clearing out pucks.

It's a little bit apples-to-oranges though. Quinn was already on the team and just signed a 2x$3.375M extension. (You can certainly argue about the wisdom of that contract.)

Benson was replacing Jost (a waiver claim) and Olofsson (a 7th rounder on the last year of his deal who the coach no longer believed in). I don't think either Östlund or Rosén was beating down the door in dev camp or the preseason. And rushing Helenius is probably the worst thing they can do for him, even if he has the stoutest frame of the 3.