Radim Mrtka
| Radim Mrtka | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
9 June 2007 Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic | ||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) | ||
| Weight | 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Buffalo Sabres Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Oceláři Třinec | ||
| NHL draft |
9th overall, 2025 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2024–present | ||
Radim Mrtka (born 9 June 2007) is a Czech junior ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) while under contract as a prospect to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He was selected ninth overall by the Sabres in the 2025 NHL entry draft.
Early life
Mrtka was born to Miloš and Helena in Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic.[1][2]
Playing career
Mrtka played with Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga (ELH) during the 2023–24 season. He recorded four goals and seven assists in 19 games with the under-20 team, and three goals and three assists in 17 games with the under-17 team. He was drafted 71st overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.[3]
He began the 2024–25 season with Oceláři Třinec, where he recorded one assist in 10 ELH games.[4] On 27 November 2024, he signed with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.[5][6] During the 2024–25 WHL season he recorded three goals and 32 assists in 43 regular season games for the Thunderbirds.[7][8]
On 15 July 2025, Mrtka signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[9]
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| Representing the Czech Republic | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
| 2026 United States | ||
In December 2025, he was selected to represent Czechia at the 2026 World Junior Championships.[10] He was scoreless in five games and won a silver medal.[11]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2023–24 | Oceláři Třinec | ELH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Oceláři Třinec | ELH | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 43 | 3 | 32 | 35 | 46 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| ELH totals | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Czech Republic | U17 | 4th | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2024 | Czech Republic | U18 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | |
| 2025 | Czech Republic | U18 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2026 | Czech Republic | WJC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Junior totals | 23 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 39 | ||||
References
- ^ Kepke, Cami (20 June 2025). "2025 NHL Draft profile: Radim Mrtka, Seattle Thunderbirds". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Radim Mrtka". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "2024 CHL Import Draft Recap". CHL.ca. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Mistrovský Třinec opouští největší česká naděje letošního draftu. Mrtka se stěhuje do Seattlu". livesport.cz (in Czech). 29 November 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Bukauskas, Cory (27 November 2024). "Thunderbirds sign Defenceman Radim Mrtka to Scholarship and Development Agreement". CHL.ca. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ O'Brien, Derek (28 November 2024). "Prospect Leaves Czechia for Seattle Thunderbirds". The Hockey News. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Meet the breakout Thunderbirds defender primed to make a splash at the 2025 NHL Draft". thejuniorhockeynews.com. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Nejžádanější Čech pro draft NHL letí vzhůru. Ohromuje "extrémně vzácným" mixem". sport.aktualne.cz (in Czech). 31 March 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Sabres sign Mrtka to 3-year, entry-level contract". NHL.com. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Czechia unveils roster for world junior championship". Sportsnet. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (5 January 2026). "Swedes win dramatic third gold". IIHF.com. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database