Sabres Sign Top Pick Mrtka To Entry-Level Deal

The Buffalo Sabres were excited when Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka was available with the ninth overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft last month, and after seeing the 18-year-old Czech blueliner up close at the club’s development camp earlier this month, GM Kevyn Adams made quick work at getting the big blueliner signed to a three-year entry-level contract on Tuesday.

Mrtka offers an intriguing physical package at 6’6”, 218 lb. with excellent skating ability. After getting limited playing time in various levels in Czechia last season and playing for his country in the Under-18s, the big right hander came to North America to play in the WHL and posted 35 points (3 goals, 32 assists) in 43 games with the Thunderbirds.  

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"Mrtka (offers a) very unique package to be able to move the way he does at 6'6", (is) almost more agile with the puck, if that's possible," Sabres Asst GM Jerry Forton said before the draft. "A smart player at both ends. I was over in Czechia early in the year when he wasn't getting a lot of playing time in the men's league over there to see what he was willing to do to move to North America. He comes from a background where he has very little in the way of resources for hockey or anything outside hockey. He uprooted, high character kid, a huge ceiling."

The Sabres will host the 2025 Prospects Challenge in September 11th to 15th and it is expected that Mrtka will be in attendance, but that will only serve as a preview of things to come, as the 18-year-old will likely return to Seattle for another WHL season to hone his skills, as well as being selected to play for Czechia in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships. 

 

"With these young players, they take time. You don't want to rush them," Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said after the first round. Philosophically, I always feel like they'll tell us when they're ready, and then you make room. If that means right away, it's great. If it means a year, two years, three years, you just don't know, but there's a, there's a good player there and we project him as a top four right-shot defenseman whenever that time comes, we'll see."

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