FN’s 2025 Flames summer prospect rankings – #13: Luke Misa

Luke Misa has continually been underrated as a prospect.

Beginning with his fall to the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft despite placing 21st in points across the entire Ontario Hockey League that season, the 5’10”, 176-pound centreman has largely been overlooked due to his relatively small frame.

For context, Misa had 16 more points than Calgary Flames’ 2024 second-round pick Jacob Battaglia while playing in fewer games in the same league.

This year, the Oakville, Ontario native has held steady at #13 in our prospect rankings, in the same position as last year despite an influx of quality prospects.

Let’s check in on one of the Flames’ top centre prospects.

Luke Misa

Centre, shoots left
Born Nov. 25, 2005 (Age 19), in Oakville, ON
5’10”, 176 pounds
Drafted in the fifth round (150th overall) by Calgary in the 2024 NHL Draft.

As the eighth pick that the Flames made in 2024, Misa has helped make up what is on pace to be one of the best Calgary draft classes of the 21st century.

Because Craig Conroy and Co. made six picks in the first three rounds of that draft, not a whole lot was made of Misa, other than the fact that he was widely considered a steal in the fifth round purely based on production.

The reality is that if he were two inches taller, Misa could have garnered first-round attention in that draft.

Misa’s greatest asset is his speed; with it, he’s able to enter the offensive zone and generate scoring chances with ease. Without the size to impose himself physically, he relies on his quick feet to break up plays defensively. He combines his speed with vision into great playmaking ability.

Despite being solid at the face-off dot (51.7%), Misa’s lack of physicality and defensive presence at times lends itself to the thinking that he’d be better suited to play on the wing at the pro level.

Since being taken 9th overall in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection (jargon for the OHL’s North American draft), Misa has been a standout OHL player, playing exclusively with the team that drafted him, the Mississauga/Brampton Steelheads.

A late birthday, Misa, who is the brother of 2025 second overall pick Michael Misa, stepped in as a 15-year-old and immediately made his mark, he posted 26 points in 62 regular season games and added five in 10 playoff contests.

In his sophomore OHL season, Misa nearly doubled his production, improving to 13 goals and 30 assists across 64 regular-season games.

In 2023-24, his draft year, Misa exploded for 26 goals and 55 assists, totalling 81 points over 66 games, all career highs. The breakout season propelled him onto draft boards, and he landed at 76th amongst North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s 2024 rankings.

The Flames grabbed him in the fifth round, 150th overall, at the 2024 Draft.

Ineligible for the AHL as a teenager on an OHL contract, Misa returned to the now Brampton Steelheads for a fourth season. Though he boasted great numbers the year prior, the expectation as a returnee was that he would improve even further.

Misa didn’t disappoint, setting new OHL career highs in goals (34) and points (85) before a 12-point playoff effort in just six games.

Andrew Mangiapane, who is about the same size as Misa and was drafted out of the OHL only a round later by the Flames, went from 104 points in 68 games during his draft year to 106 in 59 as a returnee. Though Misa’s numbers aren’t quite as gaudy as Mangiapane’s, they’re promising nonetheless.

Brock Otten of McKeen’s Hockey gave this update on Misa’s progression:

“Another solid year for Misa, even if Brampton underperformed as a team. The decision to attend Penn State next year is a terrific one for Misa’s development. His speed and tenacity will play very well at the NCAA level; one might even say that his game is tailored to college hockey. Much like Battaglia, Misa’s upside is that of a solid middle six piece. I remain steadfast that his future is on the wing and not at center. Playing the wing simplifies things and allows him to use his speed in puck pursuit, rather than just as a carrier. Yes, he’s not huge, but he, excuse the cliche, plays much bigger than his size and it’s not something that I’m concerned about. Don’t let the low penalty minute totals fool you, he can mix it up. So what’s next for Misa at Penn State? I think it’s just about using the less demanding schedule to help him put on weight so that he’s ready for the pro game.”

Though small in stature, Misa was a bit of an iron man throughout his OHL tenure; he missed just 13 games over the course of his junior career. The Oakville product ranks fifth on the Steelheads’ all-time points list with 256 points (81 goals, 171 assists) in 286 games.

Expectations for 2025-26

The 19-year-old will depart from the OHL a year early as he announced his commitment to Penn State University on May 5th.

As of late, Penn State has lured plenty of top CHL talent. Other notable commits include projected 2026 first overall selection Gavin McKenna, as well as 14th overall pick in 2025, defenceman Jackson Smith.

Misa’s size will make it more difficult for him to crack the Flames’ lineup, but his move to the NCAA will allow for more time in the weight room. As part of the Big-10, Penn State will play anywhere from 34 to 40 games, which is around half the size of the OHL’s 68-game schedule.

In his freshman year with the Nittany Lions, Misa will look to put on some more muscle, as the higher level of competition will dictate that. If the 5’10” forward is to eventually become an NHL regular, he may need to adopt more of a physical edge.

In terms of production, Misa should be able to do more than simply hold his own in his second season removed from being drafted. Considering he generally impacts the game in an offensive fashion, it would be encouraging to see him maintain a point-per-game pace in college, especially if he ends up on a line with phenom Gavin McKenna.