Radim Mrtka has yet to take the significant leap the Buffalo Sabres were hoping for when they selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but the organization remains bullish on the 19-year-old defenseman's long-term upside. He was the top standout at the team's development camp and parlayed that into a strong showing at Sabres training camp. Mrtka then returned to Rochester for the final stretch of the season but didn't impress. "He's got an elite release and hockey sense ... but we've really seen his game improve in the D-zone the last two years.