2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Radim Mrtka
Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: Monster Edition, Vol. 7
Upside Hockey’s prolific prospect profiler Trevor Curtis’s 2025 NHL draft eligible prospect profiles are all featured on our dedicated page for this with all featured prospects indexed in our table of contents alphabetically by last name. We’re now over 200 profiles completed for this draft class!
Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition, Vol. 7):
RD Radim Mrtka (6'6", 198 lbs)
Seattle (WHL): 43gp/ 3g/ 32a/ 35pts, +10, 46 PIM
Radim Mrtka (Seattle Thunderbirds)/Photos (Credit: Brian Liesse - Seattle Thunderbirds)
Behemoth defender Radim Mrtka is a two-way righty with supreme talent- he's an absolute beauty. Mrtka played in 3 different levels of hockey this season back home in Czechia, but made the wise decision to travel across the pond to display his exciting two-way game in the WHL. Unfortunately, the team that owns his rights is the Seattle Thunderbirds, who are near the bottom of the WHL standings, but that only makes his production even more impressive.
Though his offence and puck-moving ability will most likely be the traits that earn him first-round attention, he is already a stud in his own zone and a calm, steadying presence on the backend. After only playing 22 WHL games, it's apparent that Mrtka is one of the best shutdown defensemen available in the 2025 Draft. He seals off the blueline and kills rushes with his extreme range, forcing attackers outside with tight gaps, and a smothering reach. He cuts off the middle of the ice from attackers, snuffs passes, blocks lanes, and boxes opponents away from the net. He's a force down low, and wins battles along the wall.
Mrtka is unbelievably calm, poised, and intelligent when making smooth retrievals under pressure, and when starting the breakout- he makes this process look easy. His head is always on a swivel to scan, as he effortlessly shakes off forechecking pressure, cleverly eludes attackers, and serves up breakout passes that are almost always sound. When he makes the odd mistake, he can recover seamlessly, and always keeps his team's time in the defensive zone to a minimum.
He can carry through transition, and will join the rush, but he's usually the last to enter the zone in order to keep one eye on his defense- he doesn't cheat. He presents high IQ and superb vision, but he tries to keep things as simple and risk-free as possible; he walks the line effectively to pry open seams, and will activate into the zone when it's safe to make plays, keep the puck alive, or to sneak into the slot to rip a puck at the net.
His shot is hard and heavy, with accuracy, and can be used to make plays and cause havoc around the net. Mrtka is a smooth puckhandler who can deke through defenders, and exhibits tight protection skills- though he's tall, he handles close to his body and out of the reach of enemy sticks. He battles in the trenches, but isn't a huge hitter- he uses his size and strength well as leverage in battles, will finish his checks, and has a physical presence.
Best of all, Mrtka is an excellent skater, especially for a player of his stature. He employs long strides with power from a deep knee bend, and though he could use a little work on his edgework and agility, it's not really detrimental.
It's really impressive how Mrtka has so quickly acclimated himself to a new team, in a new country, on a North American rink. It's also unbelievable how he's been able to put up so much offense on such a poor team, which makes me wonder what his numbers would look like on a better team with more offensive help.
He's really a wonder to watch, and everything he does looks so seamless and effortless- perhaps like a poor-man's Victor Hedman, but surely a future top-4 defenseman in the NHL. Look for him in the top-15 of the draft, maybe top-10.
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