The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. 92 readers ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2026. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player.
Radim Mrtka
Drafted: 2025, BUF (9th overall), 1st round, 9th pick
Position: Defense (shoots right)
Born: 6/9/2007 (Age: 19) Havlickuv Brod, CZE
2025-2026 stats: GP 43 G 1 A 33 PTS 34 Seattle Thunderbirds
2025 T25U25 Ranking: 13th last year
Here he is, folks. The highly talented but often-traded Radim Mrtka. And by “traded,” I mean by the fans, in countless fantasy deals designed to bring a big fish to Buffalo’s top-six. (or a certain goalie some want) With the Sabres’ glut of right-handed defensive prospects, Mrtka’s name has been thrown around more than any other. He may be a skilled young player, but in the eyes of some fans, he has also been deemed expendable.
That’s a little hard to square with the organization’s view of him. Buffalo selected Mrtka ninth overall in 2025, and the 6-foot-6 defenseman has already shown the combination of size, mobility, puck skills and defensive ability that made him such an intriguing pick. He put up 34 points in 43 WHL games last season and gained valuable experience with Rochester, playing 8 games at the end of the year.
Mrtka also finished as the highest-ranked defenseman prospect on this list, narrowly edging out newcomer Daxon Rudolph. (not counting established Owen Power) So what exactly is Radim? Is he one of Buffalo’s best trade assets, a tempting piece to dangle in pursuit of a big deal? Or is he the fine young defenseman they drafted, a player soon to be leading the rush up ice in Blue and Gold?
I think the answer may ultimately be either, if I am being honest. Buffalo sees Mrtka as a potential top-four defenseman, and with his rare combination of size, skating and two-way ability, it would be awfully premature to write him off as merely a trade chip. But there is no denying the value he has. Sabres’ GM Jarmo Kekäläinen seemingly offered him up at least once already (in the failed Colton Parayko trade) and may again for the right deal. There is also no denying the overabundance of right handed defenders working their way through Buffalo’s system.
Something has to give eventually. Whether Mrtka is the one who gets moved or Buffalo decides his talent is too valuable to part with, one or two of these right-handed defensemen are likely to find themselves on the move. For now, his combination of size, mobility and upside makes him a particularly fascinating piece of the puzzle.
Mrtka is expected to turn pro full-time in 2026-27, joining the Rochester Americans as he continues his development and works toward earning a future spot on the Sabres’ blue line. Buffalo’s player-development staff still views him as a potential top-four defenseman. Unless, of course, Jarmo says otherwise.
2026 Buffalo Sabres Top 25 Under 25
#25 Simon-Pier Brunet
#24 Topias Leinonen
#23 Gavin McCarthy
#22 Luke Osburn
#21 David Bedkowski
#20 Maxim Strbak
#19 Brodie Ziemer
#18 Vsevolod Komarov
#17 Ashton Schultz
# 16 Riley Fiddler-Schultz
#15 Prokhor Poltapov
#14 Ryan Johnson
#13 Ilia Morozov
#12 Adam Kleber
#11 Tyson Kozak
#10 Olen Zellweger
#9 Daxon Rudolph
#8 Radim Mrtka