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.