Top NHL Draft prospect is interviewing with multiple teams

Top NHL draft prospect Michael Misa, considered one of the best forwards available, has met with or is scheduled to meet with four teams ahead of the draft, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. The four teams are the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Utah Mammoth and Nashville Predators, all of whom hold four of the top five picks in the draft, highlighting the strong interest in Misa at the top of the board.

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 184 pounds, Misa, 18, is coming off a phenomenal season in the OHL, where he led the league with 134 points in 65 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He nearly doubled his output from a season ago, when he put up 75 points in 67 games for Saginaw. Misa, who is currently participating in the NHL Combine in Buffalo, appeared on NHL.com’s “NHL Draft Class” podcast Thursday and said he feels he is ready to make the leap to the NHL.

“Ultimately, I think that’s up to the NHL team that drafts me. I think we’re going to figure out a plan for what best suits me. But I believe when I’m at my best, I put all the work in this summer, hopefully I will be ready to go next year in the NHL,” he said.

With that said, Misa also discussed the possibility of playing in the NCAA next season alongside his brother, Calgary Flames forward prospect Luke Misa, who recently committed to Penn State. He called getting a chance to play with his brother “a dream.” Whether Misa begins next season in the NHL, returns to major junior or heads to the NCAA, there’s little doubt he’ll be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. When asked on a podcast what he’d say to the Islanders to convince them to take him first overall, Misa highlighted his all-around game as one of his biggest strengths.

“I think there are a lot of things. I’m someone who hates losing. I’m a hard worker and I think my work ethic can be seen when I play. And I think I’m someone who is coachable. I like to work with the coaching staff and the team. And when I’m at my best, I think I can be a force to be reckoned with,” he said.