Why Michael Misa is a future NHL superstar

Misa is projected to be the first forward taken off the board in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the New York Islanders’ decision at No. 1 likely being between Misa and defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The two didn’t get to battle much throughout the year, with injuries taking Schaefer out for most of the season. Many still have Schaefer as the top prospect, but Misa took the opportunity by the horns and propelled himself near the top of draft boards across the league.

Misa wasn’t a lock to go in the top five heading into the season. Some scouts wanted to see more from Misa a year ago when he was more part of the supporting cast and not the dominant threat he’d later become. He’s a dual-threat as a center and a winger, but he has always preferred being a middleman. Some scouts think he could go either way, but Misa believes he’s much more valuable as a center.

“I wanted to make that jump back to center (heading into 2024-25) and I think it helped my confidence level a lot,” Misa said. “I just feel a lot more comfortable down the middle, got a lot more puck touches, just carrying the play on my stick more was definitely something that helped me.”

Misa credits the move to center as a big reason for his 59-point jump this year.

“I feel like I am involved in the play a lot more, not just offensively but defensively, being reliable,” he added.

Misa could always shoot the puck. But 62 goals felt like a pipe dream heading into the season. Misa said he didn’t do anything too crazy to his shot, or try experimenting with different flexes. Instead, he put all his focus into simply picking the right angles.

“I feel like I have a decent, powerful shot. But I think it’s more just the accuracy and where I put it,” Misa said. “I think I’ve spent a lot of time with that over the last couple of years, just getting a more accurate shot than a more powerful one. It’s better to beat goalies with accuracy than shoot as hard as you want.”

Just a reminder: Misa wasn’t invited to Canada’s World Junior camp. Think they could have used him?

Try to find a glaring flaw in his game. You won’t. Misa is an outstanding skater who’ll beat you both in short bursts and with his pure straight-line speed. He’s as good of a play-driver as you’ll find from any forward in this class. His hockey sense is truly elite, too. Heck, he’s even got some muscle in his 6-foot-1 frame. Misa isn’t a bruiser by any means, but he’s more than willing to get physical with anyone.

“He’s a tremendous player,” said fellow 2025 NHL Draft prospect Porter Martone, who found himself in a wrestling match with Misa back in November. “He plays with pace, can see the ice very well and I love getting to line up with him when we can (at prospect showcases).”

Misa uses all of his traits to exploit defenders and generate scoring chances. His shot is deceptive, rarely needing much of a wind-up to get it where he wants it. Few players in this draft class – or any, in recent memory – have a penchant for just being in the right spot at the right time as often as he does. Seriously, Misa scored a wacky number of goals where he didn’t have to do much to get into position, but he just… did.

If there’s one criticism Misa dealt with in the past, it was his quiet defensive play. He always had the ability to be uber competitive, but he’d sometimes lack pace in an effort to cheat offensively. Now, few forwards are as committed to winning battles at both ends of the ice. It’s like he unlocked a cheat code to utter two-way dominance.

“He’s special, man,” said Malcolm Spence, Misa’s childhood friend and former AAA linemate. “You see how he shoots and how he competes. He’s been so good from a young age and it’s easy to understand why he’s so dangerous.”

Misa is the best offensive forward in this draft class, and it’s not really close. He’s arguably the best two-way forward, too, and there isn’t a player with a higher floor. Misa is a top-five shooter, passer and energy forward, too. There are so many projectable traits to show he’s more than just a junior goal-scorer, and he continues to get better with every passing week.

Could Misa be in the NHL next season? He hopes so, and many think he could be, depending on the team. But the team that selects him could prefer to have him head to college for next year, just like his brother, Calgary Flames draft pick Luke Misa. Regardless, it won’t be long until he establishes himself as a top-line NHLer.

“There’s no player I’d trust more in a do-or-die situation in this draft class than Michael Misa,” one scout said earlier this spring.