Mrtka’s overage WHL year with Seattle was a mixed bag. He posted 34 points in 43 games – functional production for a defenseman of his profile – but an eight-game AHL stint with Rochester exposed real gaps in his defensive game: late to recover on the rush, slow to react, and decision-making that lagged behind the speed of pro play despite his considerable physical advantages. The tools at 6-6 and 218 pounds are genuinely rare, but translating them into consistent defensive effectiveness against men has proven more complicated than his junior dominance suggested.

Mrtka has officially signed his entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. This means that next year, he will be playing for the Sabres or back in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Since his last updates, Mrtka has put on 20 lbs and is filling into his frame more and more. As an incredibly toolsy defenseman, Mrtka has the upside of being one of the most unique players in the NHL. Players of Mrtka’s stature who can skate like he does are scarce. Mrtka is very projectable to the NHL, too, which means we could see him getting minutes as soon as the end of this season. Mrtka’s bread and butter is his defensive game, so there is a world where he becomes the Sabres’ top pairing defenseman alongside Rasmus Dahlin, which could allow for Mrtka to let Dahlin get more creative and pick up more points along the way. However, this is not to knock Mrtka, as he could run his defensive unit at the NHL level with the proper development. Overall, Mrtka is one of the most intriguing prospects in the game today and could be a massive part of the Sabres’ future.

Selected ninth overall, Radim Mrtka is now a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

Mrtka has shot up boards since moving to the WHL, quashing a lot of doubt about how his game would adjust to the North American ice. If anything, Mrtka has looked even more at home in Seattle, using his reach, proactive approach, strong rush defence habits, and high-end defensive zone awareness to be a smothering defenseman. There’s a lot of runway for Mrtka, even despite his NHL ready habits and frame. He could still get a little bit stronger, which will only aid him in board battles and net front battles. If he pans out, Mrtka could blossom into a 1B, all-situations defenceman.

Get to Know Radim Mrtka: Big Ambitions, Bigger Game

Radim Mrtka: The Next Great Czech Defenseman?

By TheProspectDon

When Radim Mrtka steps on the ice, there’s no mistaking him, 6’6″, right-handed, physically imposing, and steady under pressure. The Czech-born defenseman is already drawing NHL attention ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s not just built like a pro, he thinks like one, too.

“I would say Moritz Seider probably,” Mrtka said when asked for an NHL player comparison. “We are kinda similar, he’s as big as me, he’s righty. So yeah, I think Seider is probably the closest one.”

It’s an apt comparison. Like Seider, Mrtka brings a well-rounded two-way presence, capable of eating tough minutes, defending hard, and still making smart, effective plays in transition. His game blends physicality with poise, and at his best, he controls shifts with his stick, positioning, and processing.

Two-Way Pillar with Sky-High Ambition

Mrtka’s greatest strength? His versatility.

“My two-way game. I can actually play like everything,” he told me — not with arrogance, but with quiet confidence. And he backs it up. Whether it’s defending a cycle, breaking the puck out clean, or jumping in to support the rush, Mrtka plays with the kind of mature reads and presence that coaches trust.

That two-way reliability projects well to the NHL, especially in today’s game where defensemen are asked to do more than just shut things down.

“I would say I’m a two-way guy that can play like maybe second power play,” he explained. “Every time you have some crazy guys on the first power play — like if you have Quinn Hughes on the blueline, it’s hard to get in front of him.”

Mrtka knows who he is and who he wants to become. His goals are anything but modest.

“I want to be the best Czech defenseman in history,” he said. “Of course it’s not going to be easy, but I would love to be.”

Driven, Detail-Oriented, and Hungry for More

What separates Mrtka might not be what you see on the stat sheet — it’s the work behind the scenes. He’s dialed in on refining his game, especially one key area.

“I want to improve my skating because I feel like this is the moment when I need to get better with the skating… just feel more confident. Feel better in my skates.”

It’s a self-aware answer, and it shows that he’s focused on what’s next. For a player his size, mobility will be the difference-maker and Mrtka is leaning into that challenge.

But don’t mistake him for just a rink rat. Off the ice, that fire burns the same way.

“I’m competitive in everything,” he said. “Never want to be like the second one. I want to be the best at everything.”

What’s Next for Mrtka?

His five-year plan doesn’t include hesitation.

“I would love to play in the NHL in three years,” he said. “It would be like my journey… It’s real, it’s nothing unreal for me. I just have to work hard, and that’s all.”

And based on what I’ve seen and heard the work ethic, tools, and mindset are all pointing toward that reality.

Radim Mrtka is more than a big frame with upside, he’s a driven, thoughtful player with top-four potential and the will to chase greatness. Don’t be surprised when his name rises up draft boards this season. He’s coming and he’s coming with purpose.

The ceiling remains intriguing if the skating and processing develop – the frame alone puts him in rare company for the position. But the near-term outlook is a limited-minutes, bottom-pair defender while he continues to adjust. Whether Buffalo has the patience to let him develop at his own pace remains to be seen. A long-term hold in dynasty.

Final Rankings – Going from playing pro hockey in Czechia to the WHL managed to help Mrtka’s stock as he showed his game does it’s best when he’s given more ice time. A big 6-6 defenseman with strong skating and creativity in transition, Mrtka’s been an effective playmaker and shutdown defender who can play with a physical edge. Mrtka still has some ways to go in his hockey sense and maturity, needing to tidy up his game in order to be a top-four defenseman, though its not unrealistic to think he can hit that upside.—