The Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday reassigned defenseman Radim Mrtka to the Rochester Americans amid the team’s push to clinch a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Mrtka’s season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League ended over the weekend as the team lost in the WHL playoffs. Mrtka had 34 points in 43 regular season games, and added three assists in five playoff games with the Thunderbirds this year.
The 6’6″ defenseman was selected by Buffalo in the first round, ninth overall, in the 2025 NHL draft.
Mrtka was reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger to be involved in a trade to St. Louis at this year’s NHL trade deadline, but the deal was ultimately nixed by Blues defender Colton Parayko, who holds a no-trade clause in his contract.
The 18-year-old’s arrival to Rochester comes as the Amerks push to clinch a spot in the AHL playoffs. The team currently sits in a playoff position in the AHL’s North Division, but have yet to clinch. The top five teams in that division make it — the Amerks sit in fifth.
The Amerks have battled through adversity this year, losing their captain, defenseman Zach Metsa, to the team’s big club, and leading scorer Isak Rosén, who the Sabres moved to Winnipeg at the trade deadline in exchange for hulking defender Logan Stanley. The team has since been driven by forward Konsta Helenius, another Sabres first-round pick, who has 14 points in his last eight games.
Mrtka had a brief stint with the Amerks to begin the season, notching one assist in four games.