„It will be amazing to bring Buffalo back to glory,“ says the 9th overall pick Radim Mrtka

Buffalo fell short in the draft lottery, picking as high as 9th overall. Still, it pointed to a player who could become a long-term defensive asset for the team. Radim Mrtka took the time to answer a few questions for Czech fans.

Radim, you joined Ladislav Šmíd as the 5th highest drafted Czech defenseman. How does that sound to you?
Radim Mrtka: „It sounds amazing. To be honest, this is the first time I hear something like this. It’s an amazing feeling, but now I have to prove that I am indeed the 9th overall selection.“

I was lucky enough to do play-by-play on couple of your games at the beggining of the past season. You were part of the Oceláři Třinec but didn’t have such a big ice-time. Could you imagine back in the days that you would be selected in the NHL entry draft within first 10 picks?
RM: „Propably not. I mean, I was always very ambitious, but if someone told me a year or two ago, that I would be selected as 9th overall, I would tell him he just lost his mind and should change the medication. So it’s an awesome feeling.“

Was the low ice-time in Třinec the main point when you decided to leave Czech league and try your luck with Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL?
RM: „It was one of the reasons. I wanted to gain some experience with men’s hockey and play there until Jakub Jeřábek (Czech defenseman, who was injured the first half of the season) will come from his injury. Then I wanted to go to CHL where I would obviously play more. But because my ice-time was lower than I expected, I decided to leave earlier.„

Transfer to WHL also really helped you with your english, right? I know you had problems with it but when I heard interviews during the draft, you sounded really good!
RM: „Oh yes I made a huge step in my english. When I came to Seattle nobody understood me and neithed did I. I was very lucky that Matěj Pekař was part of the team (not the former Sabre but prospect with same name :D) because I don’t know if I would be able to make it without him. First months were just cruel.“

What did the WHL give you game-wise so far?
RM: „It gave me a lot of game-time in a very good league. Especially at the end of the season I played a lot of minutes. WHL is a very good and tough league to play. It’s pretty challenging to play such amount of games. Sometimes we even played back to back to back. So I really liked to play there.“

You’ve been talked about a lot because of your height and physical parameters already suitable for adult hockey. How did you have to handle it among juniors? And did the size of the rink played a role?
RM: „I had no problems with the size of the rink. The smaller rink even suits me more. And regarding to my physical play. You are right. It was a bit tough to play hard, because when I did that, I was always sitting in the penalty box. That’s why I decided not to play so much to the body even if I am used to it. I guess that’s the biggest difference from hockey in Czech.“

If we move to the draft – I heard that your interview with the Buffalo Sabres was not extraordinary. Did you get any indication that Buffalo was gonna pick you?
RM: „Some of my friends were sending me draft projections where I usually was around 8th or 9th place. So I was expecting I could go there but still it was a very big surprise when I was selceted 9th overall. Two years ago I absolutely would not have said that I will be picked that high. So I was a bit shocked when it happened.“

The Draft itselfs was very strange. What was it likefor you to be part of that decentralized thing?
RM: „It was absolutely weird. Talking to the big screen when the whole arena is listening to you wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever experienced. I still enjoyed it, because it’s the Draft, but for the kids in the future I hope they come back to the normal.“

I have to get to that moment that went all around the world. The pictures where you look so sad. Were you really that sad?
RM: „(Laughs) Not at all. I don’t know what happened. I was propably tired because of the jet lag but when I saw those pictures, I couldn’t believe it. But to be honest, it was fun to see all the memes and read comments where people think I’m sad to be drafted by the Sabres just because of one photo where I was not laughing.“

Were there any Sabres players that texted you after the draft? I know you said in the interview that Dahlin is one of the players that are role models to you.
RM: „Dahlin didn’t texted to me yet. But right after the draft I received a message from Alex Tuch and of course Jiří Kulich.“

Moving on to Buffalo. There is a lot of talk right now about the long drought. But still the fans in Buffalo are very passionate about the team. Have you had a chance to figure it out yet?
RM: „Oh yes. I gave a lot of signatures and people were recognizing us when we were in downtown. But we were wearing hats, so I don’t know if they would have recognized us without them. Still you can feel Buffalo is a hockey city even when there is a drought. It will be amazing to bring Buffalo back glory.“

You have your fellow Czech, Matouš Jan Kucharčík on the development camp too. Have you had time to make a Czech gang together?
RM: „(Laughs) We talk to each other a lot but there are other amazing guys in that group. Sabres wants us to stick together but it’s fine to have someone from Czech here too.“

Scott Ratzlaff is also part of that group. It’s your teammate from Seattle. What can you say about him?
RM: „Honestly, he is a very nice guy. He is really one of the nicest and kindest players I have ever met. Apart from that, he was also leader on the ice. We could trust him, he was always there when we needed him and he was a big part of our success at the end of the season.“

How do you feel about Development camp so far? What you guys do there?
RM: „A lot of things. We had a lot of meetings but also physical tests which were really not easy. I think that more than half of the guys were throwing up. So the camp is hard but you really go through everything. All the small details on and off the ice are included. Eating, fitness program. It’s a lot of new information but it’s amazing to get them and compare myself to other Sabres draft picks.“

Do you know what play is there on the table for you? AHL, WHL?
RM: „I’m not sure but I think I can’t go to the AHL. I will propably stay in juniors but that’s not something I’m taking care of right now. Everything will be decided after the development camp.“

We already talked about the Sabres not being in the best mood right now. How do you think you will help them? How would you describe yourself?
RM: „I am definitely a winner. I am doing everything I can to win. I was lucky enough to win both under 18 and under 20 championships with Třinec in Czechia so I know how does it feel to win in a play offs. And these moments are just amazing. So I want to do everything I can for my team to succeed.“

When you see current roster and a lot of defensive prospects in the pipeline – how much do you trust yourself?
RM: „Oh yeah. I have to say there are a lot of Dman at this camp. Even more then forwards. But I keep saying that competition just makes you better. It makes me all the more motivated to push through the other guys.“

Do you have any timetable where you would like to make a step into the NHL?
RM: „No. I want to get better day by day and see. Of course I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible, but I don’t have any timetable.„

One last thing – we have internal jokes about Owen Power. He is almost as big as you but amongst Sabres players he had one of the fewest number of hits. Everybody hopes that you are not going to be like this. Can you promise that you will play hard?
RM: „Oh yeah, I want to play a physical game. As I already said, there are smaller guys in the WHL so I need to be cautious to not end up in the penalty box. But I really hope it will get better and I will be a physical player too.“