Welcome to this edition of 2025 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2025 off-season, we will be taking a look at current or recently graduated WHLers who have either been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today's organization is the Buffalo Sabres, which has three WHLers in its prospect pool.
Welcome to this edition of 2025 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2025 off-season, we will be taking a look at current or recently graduated WHLers who have either been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today's organization is the Buffalo Sabres, which has three WHLers in its prospect pool.
The Sabres added one WHLer during the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Buffalo selected Radim Mrtka with the ninth overall pick, making him the first WHL player selected in this year's draft. Mrtka now joins Seattle Thunderbirds teammate Scott Ratzlaff, as well as former Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Norwin Panocha, in the Sabres prospect pool.
Starting with Mrtka, he is the type of prospect every team wants to get their hands on. Listed at 6'6", 218 lbs, the right-shot defenceman has a strong rookie campaign in the WHL, recording 35 points in 43 games. Projected to return to the WHL next season, Mrkta has the potential to be a top-pairing defender at the NHL level.
As for Ratzlaff, he recently concluded yet another impressive campaign with Seattle. Listed at 6'1", 179 lbs, the Thunderbirds goaltender finished the season with a 23-19-4 while helping Seattle clinch a playoff spot. Already signed by Buffalo, Ratzlaff, who is 20 years old, is projected to make the jump to the AHL next season.
Lastly, Panocha was drafted 205th overall by the Sabres in 2023. His time in the WHL was short, as he only played three games with Prince Albert this past season. Listed at 6'2", 192 lbs, Panocha is slated to play next season in Germany.
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