Sabres Prospect Update - 2025 Draftees - Part 1
Top pick Mrtka played for Czechia in the 2026 IIHF World Junior and for Rochester at the beginning and end of last season.
Video Transcript
W- what was the biggest difference maker?
Where do the Sabres go from here?
And, and I think we also have to talk about Alex Tuch and his role in all of this, or lack of a role maybe.
He had zero points and was a minus eight in the series against Montreal.
And I mean, how is that gonna affect his free agency, do you think?
well starting with, you know, the difference maker, you know, what was the difference in the series, I think, obviously the goaltending battle 'cause they had to keep going back from Luonen to Lyon and they weren't getting consistent performances.
you know, a lot of people are blaming Luonen for, you know, the goal, the, the Newhook goal.
It was a knuckle ball.
It was partially screened.
I thought he had kept them in the game when they were up two, when they were down two-nothing to enable them to make a comeback.
but you know, the con- inconsistency of the goaltending, I mean, when you have four goaltenders in this, in your, in your system, you have none.
I mean, you need to have a number one and then have a good number two, and obviously right now Dobesh is the number one for Montreal and Folrert is the heir apparent.
Buffalo, you know, they, they have an uncertain situation in goal.
Where do they go from here?
I mean, they, they're similar to Montreal in the sense that they gained valuable playoff experience like Montreal did against Washington last year, and I think that will help them.
But you mentioned Alex Tuch.
I've been of the opinion throughout this entire year that Alex Tuch is gone.
I don't think that his, showing in the second round, is gonna hurt him in free agency because his free agent class is pra- practically bereft of any talent.
He's the number one free agent.
He's probably gonna get more or just as much as Adrian Kempe did on his max deal.
If, if the Sabres wanna get anything for him, they probably would have to sign him and do a sign and trade.
But, you know, they'll, he'll talk nice.
He'll say, "Well, I'm open to it."
I, I, I honestly, I don't think he's coming back because I don't think they're gonna pay him, close to $11 million.
they have a lot of young players like Zach Benson who they need to get under contract, and they have a lot of young players that are coming up through the system who I think they'll, they'll depend on, and I don't think they're gonna sign Alex Tuch to an eight-year deal at 30 years old.
So that's where I think the Sabres are gonna be.
