Czech defenseman Radim Mrtka, 17, is leaving his hometown club Oceláři Třinec to join the Seattle Thunderbirds, with whom he has signed a scholarship and development agreement, the WHL club announced on Wednesday.

“We are very excited to add a high-end D-man in Radim to our team; he will help us strengthen our already solid young ’07 class,” said Seattle GM Bill La Forge. “We are grateful he chose us to help him further his development as a player. We look forward to seeing him on the ice in a Thunderbirds jersey very soon!”

Already 6-foot-6 and 198 pounds, Mrtka is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

“(H)is length is incredible, and his mobility at that size has NHL clubs salivating over what he could be one day,” said THN prospect expert Tony Ferrari.

Mrtka started the season playing for Třinec’s Extraliga team but saw limited minutes, recording one assist in 10 games. His last game in the top Czech league was on Oct. 13. He also played in seven of Třinec’s eight Champions Hockey League games this season, also recording an assist in the European club championship tournament.

For the past six weeks, Mrtka has mostly been playing in the top Czech junior league, where he has four assists in 10 games. In a five-team U-20 international tournament a couple of weeks ago, Mrtka helped Czechia to a first-place finish with three points in four games, which tied for the tournament league among defensemen with teammates Tomáš Galvas and Vojtěch Husinecký.

Mrtka is expected to make the Czech team at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship.