Radim Mrtka – 2025 NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profile

Mrtka could benefit from improving his shot and his shooting consistency. If he builds even more confidence in his shot and shoots more on entries into the offensive zone, he could elevate his offensive game even more. He will likely return to the WHL next season, regardless of what team selects him, and should be able to focus more on fine-tuning his offensive game.

The biggest asset that Mrtka has is his defensive IQ, and it is one of, if not the main reason, teams are excited to select him if he’s available in the first round. It’s not often a tall defender has the skillset like Mrtka does, where he can skate, shoot, defend, and provide offensive production. If he continues to develop the small parts of his game that need some work, he could translate his two-way dominance to the NHL down the line and become a solid contributor at the professional level.

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Radim Mrtka – NHL Draft Projection

Martka’s size, skating ability, and hockey IQ should see him selected in the top 10, if not the top 15. Matthew Schaefer is the only other defenseman likely to be picked before him, and he is arguably a top-three selection. After Schaefer, there are varying opinions on who might go next, whether it’s Martka, Jackson Smith, or Logan Hensler, depending on who is viewed as more valuable.

Quotables

“Has adjusted seamlessly to play in North America despite fits and starts just after his arrival. The blend of size, skating, and puck-moving ability in a right-shot defenceman is extremely rare.” – Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet

“Mrtka has size and some decent creativity, making it difficult to beat him down the middle. Mrtka’s skating needs to improve to take the next step in his game, but I like that he’s playing more than 25 minutes a night in the WHL.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff.

“The hulking right-shot defender is quite mobile for his size, and he uses that to impact the game at both ends of the ice. In his own end, he will finish his checks along the wall and use his length to dislodge puck possession.” – Tony Ferrari – The Hockey News 

Strengths

Under Construction/Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Mrtka possesses a unique combination of size, skating ability, and hockey IQ, which gives him the potential to become a top-pairing NHL defenseman. His ability to influence the game at both ends of the ice and his composure under pressure make him an invaluable asset in all situations. His physical attributes and skill set draw comparisons to Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers, as both are towering, mobile defensemen with elite shutdown capabilities and offensive upside.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 4.5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense – 6.5/10, Defence – 8.5/10

Awards/Achievements

Radim Mrtka Statistics

Videos