D Radim Mrtka - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL (Draft 2025)
- Thread starter czech
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Czechboy
Náš f*cken barák!
- Apr 15, 2018
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6 points in last 4 games.
Up to 18 points in 19 games. Is a minus 4 though. Yes I know plus/minus is a flawed stat.
The other defensemen currently on the team are -10, -11, -11, -13, -19, and -24. Considering how much Mrtka plays as well, -4 isn't bad for this Thunderbirds team at all.
pgfan66
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2019
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And how many games did those guys play with how many minutes? Exactly why the stat is flawed. Can't be compared.
Could easily be this year's D who ends up at 6th overall or whatever, shocking some people as the 2nd D off the board (behind Schaefer). He's a huge right-shot D.
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
I watched Mrtka in person on Saturday. He skates hunched over, which is bad. He fell down a couple times leading to great scoring chances. He handles the puck like a grenade, just bad puck skills. I would be pissed if the Blues drafted this player. This is definitely not a 1D on puck skills alone. His -3 on Saturday was legit
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I think Mrtka has shown he’s one of the best defensemen in this draft, but I don’t think you’re completely off base.
Like of course he’s very good for junior (he’s gonna be a top 15 pick), but I think there are some concerns there that aren’t unfair (the puck game and the skating). But he’s 6’6 and decent defensively. I don’t think he’s bad either in the areas you mention, but they can be slightly questioned. He’ll reach the NHL, and then we’ll see how those areas stack up against the best players in the world.
Personally I still have two other defensemen as 2 and 3, but Mrtka could be the second defensemen off the board.
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
The Blues really really need a pinnacle 1D and so I basically went to this game with an ISO on Stancl and Mrtka, putting myself in the LW Stancl, RD Mrtka corner each period. I think Mrtka is going to be knocked off stride by anyone with mass due to his skating style, it's like a giraffe. Fumbled the puck repeatedly. Fell down leading to great chances in a game they should have won, as his team outshot Kelowna 52-24
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I think Smith and Hensler are better skaters than Mrtka. Hensler I don’t think necessarily has that 1D upside, but will be a good NHL’er on a middle pair with some upside to be a 2. Smith could be a 1D if he improves his defense a little. I think he’s the best defenseman alternative to Schaefer.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Always good to draw conclusions on a player after watching one game.
If you're wanting Mrtka to be a #1D, then you're obviously going to end up disappointed. That's not what he is; only one guy in this draft looks like a future #1D at this point in the class' development, and you certainly aren't going to get him where the Blues are picking.
Mrtka is going to go early in the draft because his floor is very high and his player archetype (big defensive RHD) is highly sought after. Not because he's a future top pairing guy.
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Yeah I guess all the experts who has him in round 1 are wrong, because PocketNines said he is bad, so he is bad lol
Czechboy
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- Apr 15, 2018
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I am not sure I've seen a recent ranking that doesn't have him in round 1 but Zboril was in round 1 so who the hell knows anymore.lol
I'm currently a 'stat watcher' and the prospects thread is filled with some really smart posters on this so I'll go with the flow on this one. Sounds like his team is shit and we should see him at the U18's. Who knows, maybe the U18's will see us get revenge on Kazakhistan and avoid relegation. Starting to hate that tournament.lol
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
lol I absolutely did not, you just chose to assume the worst because it was a comment you didn't want to hear, which is super average behavior
What a stupid stupid stupid comment
Only stupid comments here are yours lol
I would definitely believe more certified scouts and experts who has him round 1 and saying he is good rather then some random poster saying he is bad
Luckily its in USA so games will be pretty late here, good excuse for not to watch lol
We actually have Switzerland and Germany from the "weaker" ones in the group. If we play like last two years there, the relegation round is real lol
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
The reason your comment was so specifically and so thoroughly stupid is I said I didn't want my team to take him not that he wouldn't be a first round pick, you incredibly skilled reading comprehender.
And then on top of that you went on a full on appeal to authority to defeat a strawman. Honestly your reply is pitiful, like a hard hard stupid on many layers. Sorry I got in the way of your boyfetish with a comment that went against what you wanted to hear you utter THINKER
Czechboy
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- Apr 15, 2018
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I could legit see us winning one of the Hlinka or U20 next season while also being relegated in the U18. We could send the senior gold team with Pasta and Necas and lose at the U18's.lmao
Mrtka isn't going to be a PP1 guy in the NHL but his puck skills are very sound (even before applying them relative to his size, by which standards they'd be exceptional) and it's an odd criticism to hear.
Jackson Smith to me is a better prospect and an easy projection to be a Hanifin-type top pairing D, but Mrtka is full value for going somewhere in the 10-20 range at this point.
And doing deep dives on 'balance' for 6'6 17 year olds isn't always productive. I remember seeing Tyler Myers get dominated and knocked down in the corner by tiny little Dustin Sylvester in his draft year ... and then the next year those issues had totally vanished and he was the best defender in the WHL by a mile.
Jackson Smith to me is a better prospect and an easy projection to be a Hanifin-type top pairing D, but Mrtka is full value for going somewhere in the 10-20 range at this point.
And doing deep dives on 'balance' for 6'6 17 year olds isn't always productive. I remember seeing Tyler Myers get dominated and knocked down in the corner by tiny little Dustin Sylvester in his draft year ... and then the next year those issues had totally vanished and he was the best defender in the WHL by a mile.
PocketNines
Cutter's Way
Well if this player's strength is supposed to be puck skills then it's a major red flag.
I very much want to be watching a player with those skills when I watch him. But of course that can't be true, it has to be bad faith congrats to all of you getters to the bottom of it! Hope the Sharks draft him
I very much want to be watching a player with those skills when I watch him. But of course that can't be true, it has to be bad faith congrats to all of you getters to the bottom of it! Hope the Sharks draft him
Czechboy
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- Apr 15, 2018
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At this point I think he could get hurt (like Jiricek did in his draft year) and still go round 1. Scouts love that combo of size and handedness.
How it works out in NHL will be interesting to follow. Several years away is my guess. I think people will like him more when they see him at the U20 next year in Minny.
Dude has 16 assists in 19 games playing with one of the lowest-scoring forward groups in the WHL. It is a strength. He isn't Zellweger and won't be a PP1 guy but there are no reasons for concern there.
The guy isn't a 17 year old Chris Pronger and obviously there are some rough edges to smooth out but he's a 6'6 RHD all-situations minute muncher who has walked straight into the WHL as a PPG defender in his draft year. He's an outstanding prospect.
Czechboy
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Found this interesting
He's played half the games and leads the team in D scoring. Mynio is a 19 year old 3rd round pick who was traded. The next two guys combined have 1 less point than Mrtka and have played 79 combined games.
Mrtka has 18 points in 19 games
The next 4 guys combined have 26 points in 138 games played.
OR
He's a U18 player (draft eligible) D.. here are his WHL peers
He is second! (Tash has only played 1 game)
FWIW - Dupont is 15 years old. He may be generational.. no idea but that seems impressive as hell. This also means Mrtka has the highest .ppg of draft eligible D in the WHL. Unless I'm completely stat watching wrong?
He's played half the games and leads the team in D scoring. Mynio is a 19 year old 3rd round pick who was traded. The next two guys combined have 1 less point than Mrtka and have played 79 combined games.
Mrtka has 18 points in 19 games
The next 4 guys combined have 26 points in 138 games played.
OR
He's a U18 player (draft eligible) D.. here are his WHL peers
He is second! (Tash has only played 1 game)
FWIW - Dupont is 15 years old. He may be generational.. no idea but that seems impressive as hell. This also means Mrtka has the highest .ppg of draft eligible D in the WHL. Unless I'm completely stat watching wrong?
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