D Radim Mrtka - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL (Draft 2025)

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it.
6'6", skates well, right-handed, handles the puck well, solid IQ. I wouldn't be shocked if he went top-10 simply because solid RHD with size are extremely rare. Reinbacher-lite.
That's what I am thinking too... his combo of traits is very desirable. Someone will want that.
 
He is very relied upon. When you watch Seattle, he’s clearly their number one D. He plays in all situations and is a horse out there.

He’s risen up my rankings a ton since joining Seattle
Which is great because sometimes promising Czechs come over and really flounder when they hit CHL. Sale is a great example. Mrtka has hit the ground running!

3 points in 2 games this weekend!
 
Isn’t Reinbacher like 6’2?

I distinctly remember reading a report/interview that Reinbacher did during this 2024 pre-training camp golf tournament with the Canadiens in which he basically said that he's had quite the growth spurt since his draft year, was 6'3 in training camp right after the 2023 Draft, and is 6'5 now.

Can't find that article/mention though, it's buried under 5000 articles about Reinbacher's major injury in Late September of 2024. Also under metric tons of comments people made bemoaning the pick and whining about not selecting Michkov.

Anyhow, Reinbacher did have to deal with Osgood-Schlatter disease (caused by growth spurt) in his knees during his D+1, wore braces in training camp, and was visibly slower/clumsier on the ice to start that season in the NLA but got much better as the year went by and he eventually dressed for the Laval Rocket.

Disturbing development concerning David Reinbacher: he is suffering from a disease that is causing serious problems in both knees

So yeah, I don't know about any comparisons to Mrtka as both players are pretty different in their playstyles, but current-day Reinbacher would be pretty close to the same height as Mrtka.

And to not get completely derailed by this "out-of-nowhere Reinbacher excursion", I do like Mrtka's game in the WHL but would like to see him more aggressive against the puck-carrier.

Sometimes I think Mrtka gives attackers too much space out there.
 
No but I had a different quesiton.lol Why does Reinbacher get so much heat on HF?
Because he was taken over Michkov. That's literally it. I had Reinbacher ranked 7th overall in his draft year. People are forgetting that he was really good in a top level men's professional league as a 17 year old.

I like Mrtka a lot. But Reinbacher was clearly the better prospect in his draft year at this point.
 
Because he was taken over Michkov. That's literally it. I had Reinbacher ranked 7th overall in his draft year. People are forgetting that he was really good in a top level men's professional league as a 17 year old.

I like Mrtka a lot. But Reinbacher was clearly the better prospect in his draft year at this point.
I'm not that familiar with Reinbacher but everytime I read his game someone is talking shit about him.lol Thank you
 
  • Like
Reactions: WeThreeKings
I'm not that familiar with Reinbacher but everytime I read his game someone is talking shit about him.lol Thank you
He's had a bit of a suboptimal post-draft development, between a tough season last year to the major injury in training camp this season. But he still feels like a borderline lock to be a solid middle-pairing RHD, which is an incredibly valuable asset.

To tie this back to Mrtka, my point is that I feel like he could have a similar rise at the draft that Reinbacher did. I expected Reinbacher to go in the 7-10 range, but he went 5th in part due to the premium on two-way RHD who have size and can skate well. I think Mrtka wouldn't be BPA until 15th or so, but he could easily go top-10 because of the premium on his archetype.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Czechboy
He's had a bit of a suboptimal post-draft development, between a tough season last year to the major injury in training camp this season. But he still feels like a borderline lock to be a solid middle-pairing RHD, which is an incredibly valuable asset.

To tie this back to Mrtka, my point is that I feel like he could have a similar rise at the draft that Reinbacher did. I expected Reinbacher to go in the 7-10 range, but he went 5th in part due to the premium on two-way RHD who have size and can skate well. I think Mrtka wouldn't be BPA until 15th or so, but he could easily go top-10 because of the premium on his archetype.
Czechs tend to rise towards draft. I'm guessing the next round draft lists have him around 10.
 
Czechs tend to rise towards draft. I'm guessing the next round draft lists have him around 10.
If he plays the U18 and performs well, then I'd agree that it'll give him that final push.

I read a really great article last year about the Sharks and Tomas Hertl. Apparently they were really high on him for years before his draft season and were hoping and praying that because he was a November birthday, his inability to play the U18 in his draft year would make other scouts 'forget' about him a little and allow him to fall to 17th. The rest is history.
 
If he plays the U18 and performs well, then I'd agree that it'll give him that final push.

I read a really great article last year about the Sharks and Tomas Hertl. Apparently they were really high on him for years before his draft season and were hoping and praying that because he was a November birthday, his inability to play the U18 in his draft year would make other scouts 'forget' about him a little and allow him to fall to 17th. The rest is history.
U18 is a cursed tournament for Czechs. Can't explain it but we just suck year after year. We could send the 2026 men's Olympic team to the U18 and we would lose there lol

I do think that team looks solid as hell on paper . And I think Mrtka would be the guy on it. Psenicka would be another guy I'd expect in there with him. It's a nice start. Toss in cihar and Novotny from bronze U20 team and a very overlooked Benak and we are cooking! On paper.lol
 
Because he was taken over Michkov. That's literally it. I had Reinbacher ranked 7th overall in his draft year. People are forgetting that he was really good in a top level men's professional league as a 17 year old.

I like Mrtka a lot. But Reinbacher was clearly the better prospect in his draft year at this point.
And because he's a Hab. Everything is heightened when it comes to that team, for good and bad.
 
Looking forward to seeing this defender Mrtka defend against Jakub Stancl on Saturday in Kent.
(Stancl has leveled way up, can't wait til he gets to the AHL in late March)

Seattle is in the basement and Kelowna isn't far above them, they will both get lots of ice time.
Cootes, Sharpe and Paupanekis in the mix this draft as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Czechboy
Looking forward to seeing this defender Mrtka defend against Jakub Stancl on Saturday in Kent.
(Stancl has leveled way up, can't wait til he gets to the AHL in late March)

Seattle is in the basement and Kelowna isn't far above them, they will both get lots of ice time.
Cootes, Sharpe and Paupanekis in the mix this draft as well.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Stancl's production without Cristall - Cristall was in on well over 50% of Stancl's production pre-WJC.

He obviously got of to a crazy good start with a 5-point game in the first without Cristall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Czechboy
It will be interesting to see what happens to Stancl's production without Cristall - Cristall was in on well over 50% of Stancl's production pre-WJC.

He obviously got of to a crazy good start with a 5-point game in the first without Cristall.
Cristall is a bum, it was Štancl who made him produce, now he is finally free and it shows.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Hockeyville USA
It will be interesting to see what happens to Stancl's production without Cristall - Cristall was in on well over 50% of Stancl's production pre-WJC.

He obviously got of to a crazy good start with a 5-point game in the first without Cristall.
That's exactly what I thought, I watched Cristall's dynamism when they were together on Kelowna and saw solid play from Stancl but assumed he was just profiteering.

Nope. I am watching my team's prospect make The Leap and it's awesome.

Going to be a big challenge for Mrtka since are both big bodies, I want to see the matchup
 
I distinctly remember reading a report/interview that Reinbacher did during this 2024 pre-training camp golf tournament with the Canadiens in which he basically said that he's had quite the growth spurt since his draft year, was 6'3 in training camp right after the 2023 Draft, and is 6'5 now.

Can't find that article/mention though, it's buried under 5000 articles about Reinbacher's major injury in Late September of 2024. Also under metric tons of comments people made bemoaning the pick and whining about not selecting Michkov.

Anyhow, Reinbacher did have to deal with Osgood-Schlatter disease (caused by growth spurt) in his knees during his D+1, wore braces in training camp, and was visibly slower/clumsier on the ice to start that season in the NLA but got much better as the year went by and he eventually dressed for the Laval Rocket.

Disturbing development concerning David Reinbacher: he is suffering from a disease that is causing serious problems in both knees

So yeah, I don't know about any comparisons to Mrtka as both players are pretty different in their playstyles, but current-day Reinbacher would be pretty close to the same height as Mrtka.

And to not get completely derailed by this "out-of-nowhere Reinbacher excursion", I do like Mrtka's game in the WHL but would like to see him more aggressive against the puck-carrier.

Sometimes I think Mrtka gives attackers too much space out there.

Reinbacher is not 6'5" lol

This article never existed which is why you will never find it. I believe that his last measurement was between 6'2" and 6'3".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Forlan

Ad

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad