One look at Radim Mrtka tells you he’s likely a defensive defenseman, given his 6’6, 218-lb frame. And if that’s all he is in the NHL, then that’s fine. Mrtka’s a player who’ll use his size to his advantage, punishing opponents with body checks and ending sequences. He’s the kind of blueliner whose style of play will either win championships or guarantee a deep playoff run.
But, when you look at Mrtka’s numbers, he’s more than just a defense-first blueliner, and that means he could be somewhat deceptive at the next levels. In his first full season on North American ice, Mrtka ended the year with just three goals, but he had 35 points, showing off playmaking ability and someone who can likely take control of and quarterback the power play.
He’s also a right-handed defenseman, and while I’ll never make or break my thoughts on a player’s handedness, we also know the RHD is a luxury in hockey. That drives his value up even further, but he should be there if the Blue and Gold picks ninth overall, as opposed to trading the pick.
Radim Mrtka could be a sneaky-good fit for just about anyone
Heading into 2024-25, you’d think a player like Mrtka would struggle getting used to North American ice. But wow, for a blueliner averaging roughly 0.75 points per game in Year 1 of his North American odyssey? That’s something, and it’ll leave you wondering what he could have in store next season when he likely returns to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
Mrtka’s good at finding the open man on the ice, and he can find ways to put himself in pristine position to take a tape-to-tape pass when his team’s got the puck. This is a good offensive showcase for a player whose build will be greater than Mattias Samuelsson’s the Sabres No. 1 defensive defenseman at the moment.
Still, his skills with the puck will fly by Samuelsson’s, even if he may or may not adopt the same two-way game once he reaches the NHL. But still, he’s a projected top-four blueliner, no doubt, and one who could possibly even before the No. 9 pick on draft night.
Where would Radim Mrtka fit in with the Sabres?
If drafted, you could see Mrtka clocking in as the Sabres best prospect at the blue line, even if there are some reliable names there now. But his size and, thus far, two-way game separate him from the pack, even if he’s most likely returning to the WHL for two more seasons, having just turned 18 three days before I wrote this article.
This means his AHL days won’t happen until 2027-28, and there’s a chance he’ll be a full-timer there for two seasons before he’s completely NHL-ready. So, tack on two more years, and that would put Mrtka into the NHL for the 2029-30 season. But the wait will be worth it, regardless if he can continue his points productivity at the next level.
While the Sabres may be better off trading the pick, Mrtka could be their best option at No. 9 if they stand pat.
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