Prized prospect Radim Mrtka, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, isn't ready for a significant role with the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres appeared to quietly acknowledge that fact Friday when they signed free-agent defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who most recently played for the Chicago Blackhawks, to a one-year, $850,000 contract ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Grzelcyk's arrival comes after Buffalo saw Mattias Samuelsson (lower-body injury) and Olen Zellweger (concussion protocol) leave a recent preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Samuelsson was labeled week-to-week, while Zellweger is out indefinitely.
Their absence led the Sabres to elevate Mrtka and Ryan Johnson to the main practice group at training camp, as Zach Metsa and Dennis Gilbert moved into the top-six defense group.
Grzelcyk, a 32-year-old Boston native who spent the first eight years of his NHL career with the Bruins, is a more dependable short-term option. While he only posted 12 points for the Hawks last season, he compiled 40 points in 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024-25.
Chicago's team-wide struggles (it finished 31st in the league) played a role in the veteran blueliner's lackluster numbers during the 2025-26 campaign, but he still ranked second among Blackhawks defenders in 5-on-5 expected goal share (45.7%), according to Natural Stat Trick.
Grzelcyk could take some time to get back up to full speed since he's signing so late in the free-agent process, but he'll likely serve as Buffalo's No. 7 defenseman ahead of Johnson and Mrtka once he's deemed ready for game action.
One lingering question will be whether Grzelcyk or Metsa fills that reserve role if the Sabres' blue line eventually reaches full strength with the return of Samuelsson and Zellweger. The coaching staff has a little bit of time before that decision may arrive, though.
Sabres prospect Radim Mrtka needs time with the AHL's Rochester Americans
Mrtka is a highly intriguing talent thanks to his unique combination of size (6'6''), skill and skating ability for a player of his physical stature. The Sabres knew there was a longer development runway when they selected him in the top 10 of last year's draft, though.
That remains true, in large part because the 19-year-old Czechia native failed to make significant strides offensively last season. He scored just one goal in 48 games (regular season and playoffs) for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds in 2025-26.
Mrtka isn't expected to become a Rasmus Dahlin-level offensive contributor, but a player of his size and draft pedigree should still produce far more against junior competition. Merely for comparison, Daxon Rudolph (a fellow defenseman who the Sabres chose at No. 4 overall in the 2026 draft), scored 37 goals in WHL play last season, including the Prince Albert Raiders' postseason run.
So, at least one full season (and probably at least two) with the Amerks is likely in the cards for Mrtka, and Buffalo won't want to rush him to the NHL. It was likely a contributing factor in the arrival of Grzelcyk to give the club a little more injury insurance.
When everybody is healthy, Mrtka probably now stands around 11th on the organizational defensive depth chart, and there's a lot of cornerstone players above him. He'll need to make some serious strides before he threatens to crack the Buffalo top six, especially with Rudolph, who'll play for the University of Denver this season, now joining the race toward the NHL.
Just for clarity: All of this doesn't mean Mrtka is trending toward bust territory. He's just going to need more time than a traditional high draft pick to reach hockey's highest level on a full-time basis, and he may still receive a brief cup of coffee with the Blue and Gold at some point this season.
The Sabres, who finally ended a 14-year playoff drought last season, can't afford for the majority of those growing pains to occur in the NHL, though.
Mrtka should take on a significant role with the Amerks, giving him a chance to garner a lot of ice time in various situations, including special-teams work. That's what he needs: a lower-pressure environment to gain experience against pro opponents.
How he performs during his first season in Rochester will paint a much clearer picture about the right-shot defender's timetable to reach Buffalo.
In the meantime, Grzelcyk is more than capable of filling the short-term defensive void for the Sabres.
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