BUFFALO, N.Y. — The final full week of training camp for your Buffalo Sabres is here, and with it comes some injury updates and how that’s letting the blue and gold get some extended looks at young talent.
“Everything is new for me, so I’m just trying to learn, adapt and be better and better,” said Sabres defenseman and 2025 top draft pick Radim Mrtka.
Mrtka is getting extra time and attention in Buffalo as the depth of the Sabres blue line is needed. Alternate captain Mattias Samuelsson is currently week-to-week with an upper-body injury, which means the Czech has gone into high gear — and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Earn is a pretty good word,” head coach Lindy Ruff remarked about the effort Mrtka has put forth through prospect and training camps thus far. “Then coupled with a couple of guys being out, we’ve been able to take, you know, a longer look at them. But when you see what he’s done since the start of prospect camp, to where we’re at now is really, you know, impressed with how hard he practices and how hard he tries to play the game for his age.”
The defenseman is one of a handful of players getting more time in Buffalo as the roster gets whittled down by next Monday ahead of the season opener. Even at 18 years old, a large frame, high motor and commitment to the team being more defensive minded this year could prove useful.
“I’m trying to play physical as much as I can,” Mrtka said. “Just trying to show the forwards that it’s not going to be easy for them.”