Meet the breakout Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman set to make an impact at the 2025 NHL Draft
Kent, Wash. – For rookie Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka, the combination of a smaller rink and increased playing time has proven to be a successful formula.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 216 pounds, the right-shot defenseman from Havlickuv, Czech Republic, is gaining significant attention from NHL scouts in his first season in North America – and enjoying every moment of it.
“I actually love the smaller rink,” Mrtka said. “For me, it’s better. I’m the big guy, and when the rink is larger, it’s easier for the smaller guys to get around me. I just like it more. I’m enjoying it more, and I think I even play better on the smaller rink.”
In addition to Mrtka’s towering presence, Thunderbirds Head Coach Matt O’Dette has been impressed by the 17-year-old’s smooth transition to the WHL.
Since his debut on November 29, 2024, Mrtka has become an all-situations player, leading the team’s first power-play unit and contributing to the penalty kill.
“He can really move, which is rare for someone his age and size,” O’Dette said. “Generally, those players haven’t developed their coordination yet, but he’s already got his feet under him. He has excellent vision with the puck, makes plays, and defends well. He’s smart, uses his stick effectively, and is skating well to defend. He can handle the minutes. He’s in excellent shape, plays efficiently, and manages his time on the ice well, controlling the game without overexerting himself.”
Mrtka has accumulated three goals and 28 assists (including one goal and 10 assists on the power play), totaling 31 points in 32 games.
He ranks second on the Thunderbirds in assists and fourth in points, while standing ninth in points per game (.97) among all WHL defensemen. This list includes top NHL prospects such as Tyson Jugnauth, Lukas Dragicevic (Seattle Kraken), Carter Yakemchuk (Ottawa Senators), Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators), and exceptional status defenseman Landon DuPont.
NHL Central Scouting has ranked Mrtka sixth among all North American skaters in its midterm 2025 NHL Draft rankings, while TSN’s Bob McKenzie has him at 12th overall in his latest mock draft.
“It feels really good because I know the hard work I’ve put in to get here,” Mrtka said of the recognition. “But I don’t really think about it. I just focus on the team – what we need to do for the best of the team and to make the playoffs.”
A strong start to the second half of the regular season has propelled the Thunderbirds into the Western Conference playoff race. Seattle has gone 7-2-1-0 in its last 10 games and is currently holding the final playoff spot in the West.
Key victories during this stretch include a 3-1 win against the league-leading Everett Silvertips (with Mrtka and fellow top 2025 Draft prospect Braeden Cootes assisting Brayden Schuurman’s game-winning goal) and a shootout win over the Eastern Conference’s top-ranked Medicine Hat Tigers (where Mrtka registered an assist and scored the clinching goal in the 11th round of the shootout).
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