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Top of the Draft: Introducing Michael Misa

The No. 2 pick on most draft boards would be a welcome slide to No. 3.

Posted on by Soft Serve Scouting
Source: OHL Images (Natalie Shaver)

Michael Misa is widely regarded as one of the top talents in the 2025 NHL Draft class thanks to a dynamic blend of elite skating, sharp hockey sense, refined puck skills, and a two-way responsibility that should only get better with experience. Although there is room to refine his game and mature physically, Misa is considered one of the most complete, NHL-ready prospects this draft class with a trajectory points squarely toward a future as a top-line NHL. Virtually every projection you’ll see has him as the No. 2 prospect in available in this draft, which is why there will likely be a noticeable eruption of joy from Chicago if he slides down to No. 3.

Summary

Selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Misa was just the ninth player in CHL history to be granted exceptional status, allowing him to play in juniors at 15. He wasted no time making an impact, racking up 56 points (22 G, 34 A) in 45 games during his rookie season – a performance that earned him OHL Rookie of the Year honors, as well as selections to both the First All-Rookie Team and the CHL All-Rookie Team. He built on that momentum in his second OHL season, posting 75 points (29 G, 46 A) in 67 games while helping the Saginaw Spirit win their first ever Memorial Cup championship with 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 17 playoff games.

If it can be believed, Misa improved even more this past season, topping the league with 134 points (62 G, 72 A) in 65 games. This was the first time in Saginaw’s history for one of their players to win the CHL scoring race. Among first-year draft-eligible players in CHL history dating back to 2005, there are only three players who had more point in a single season: Sidney Crosby (168 points, Rimouski Océanic, 2004–05), Patrick Kane (145 points, London Knights, 2006–07), and Connor Bedard (143 points, Regina Pats, 2022–23). 

On the international stage, Misa does not have as many appearances as some other top prospects in this draft, but he made strong impacts when at tournaments. He earned silver at the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge with Canada Red with six points (3 G, 3 A) in seven games. He also helped Canada capture gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with eight points (3 G, 5 A) in five games. 

Misa was notably left off the roster for Team Canada’s 2025 World Junior Championship roster– a tournament in which Canada finished in fifth place in part due to lack of offense . The decision to favor older prospects is likely the reason. 

Strengths

Arguably the most dynamic forward in this draft class, Misa has an incredible toolkit of physical abilities and skills that project well to the NHL.

First, Misa’s game is built off his skating ability. As a smooth and generally powerful skater, Misa utilizes long strides and high-end inside edge control in order to jet across the ice. While not as agile as a skater like Schaefer, Misa’s elite top-end speed and quick pivots allow him to maneuver and work within traffic and space effectively. As a gifted 200-foot player, Misa’s high-end skating complements both his offensive and defensive instincts, making him a constant threat during transition and rush plays, while also providing an excellent foundation for defensive zone play or board work.

Misa is regarded so highly because he really can fill just about any role he’s asked to play on the team. Whether it’s scoring goals at incredible rates, setting up his teammates with high end passes, playing on the PK, or controlling the ice through the neutral zone and in transition, there are some nights when it truly feels there is nothing Misa can’t do.

Speaking of goal scoring, Misa scored at an incredible rate of 62 goals in 65 games. Everything about his goal scoring ability stands out, from his release timing, power, and downright deceptive shooting mechanics. Misa needs almost no wind up to deliver incredibly fast and accurate shots to any area of the net. He’s able to find soft spots in defensive coverage, either by pushing through open spots, or deceiving defenders with his hands. He utilizes an incredible variety of shots, not only just a snap or wrister, but a deceptively great slap shot as the point man on the power play. In our viewings, what makes him so dangerous as a shooter is his ability to adjust his shooting angle mid-release, either by changing his weight distribution on his planted foot, or sliding his hands just slightly up his stick to create additional torque. He’s incredibly lethal off the rush, where his spatial awareness and speed create so many opportunities for him to generate for his team. One of our favorite traits is simply Misa’s ability to get his shot off, even under pressure. He’s composed, picks his options and, when an opportunity arises, never hesitates to fire. He could genuinely become a 40+ goal scorer at the NHL level.

While Misa is an incredible shooter, it would be criminal to not highlight just how high his hockey IQ is. He isn’t Connor Bedard, but Misa sees the ice exceptionally well. His head is on a swivel, constantly scanning for opportunities. He’ll use his size and body to create lanes for his teammates, bait defenders to make highlight reel passes, push himself into space through deceptive edge work, or taking soft ice, and he consistently moves to the right place at the right time. He constantly anticipates plays, opening room in front of Parekh on a rush, knowing when to cycle, or positioning himself in the appropriate spots before the passer even thinks he’s an option. In this class, while Misa may not have the highest innate IQ, he’s superbly creative and has the best toolkit of any forward in order to take advantage of opportunities.

Misa isn’t defined by his offense alone, either. He’s incredibly committed to his defensive and two-way game. He consistently demonstrates strong positional awareness, often playing high and anticipating a cycle change like a defenseman, or covers gaps as his defensemen step up. Misa uses an active stick, and his superb skating speed allows him to disrupt plays early, creating high-end turnovers that lead to transition opportunities which he can single handedly drive. He shows excellent commitment to both the backcheck and the forecheck, always preferring to play the game with the puck on his stick. While he hasn’t been a big hitter, Misa doesn’t shy away from the boards, and isn’t afraid to get dirty to win puck battles. Defensively, Misa isn’t afraid to leverage his IQ either. He sits in soft spots, pressures attackers outside, and reads the ice well enough to collapse appropriately and cover space on the PK. After all, he was one of Saginaw’s best penalty killers last season. As Misa continues to mature and add size, his two-way game should become high-end. While it’s unlikely he’ll contend for any Selke trophies, he’ll still add great value in all three zones.

Weaknesses

Misa doesn’t really have any overt weaknesses. He’s engaged physically, he’s creative, proactive, a great skater, and a phenomenal shooter. He has an extremely high floor as an NHLer because there’s really no skill that he currently isn’t above average at. There are really only two areas that we see as places for more development to reach his ceiling.

The first is simply his size. Misa is only currently at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds — he’s light. Bedard, for example, is 5-10, 185. Frank Nazar is 5-10, 190. Misa has a lot more room to fill out, build muscle, and increase his skating speed even further, improve his on-ice stamina, and make himself more of a physical presence for his two-way play and tenacious pace anywhere on the ice. It would enable him to hit harder, win more board battles, fight off more pressure as he tries to weave through the offensive zone, and finally allow him to create even more space for his teammates through body control and separation ability. Some folks believed that, at the start of the season, he may have been best suited to the wing due to his questionable utilization of size and physicality. Over the course of the season, though, this greatly improved. It should improve in the NHL as well, but it’s an area that’s relatively easy to correct with appropriate focus.

The second, slightly harder area to improve, are his small skills. When you watch Misa’s play, there isn’t a lot of exceptional handling, pulling pucks in tight to get around defenders, or use of individual puck skill to get around defenders and create changes. Misa is a bread-and-butter hockey player who is going to be consistent, but doesn’t have highlight-reel hands like Bedard, Kane, or even the innate puck control that Celebrini showed last year. He thrives most in a structured offense where he knows where his teammates are going to be. It’s not to say Misa can’t draw defenders with his hands, or deke opponents at times, but it’s just not a huge facet of his game. We’re not sure it needs to be either. But, if Misa is to reach his ultimate ceiling, he will need to add a bit more on puck skill, especially when 1-on-1 against defenders, or on the boards in the neutral zone.

Conclusion

There’s really nothing that Michael Misa can’t do. If you want a goal scorer, he can do it. If you want a playmaker, he can do it. If you want a 200-foot player, he can do it. If you want a defensive stalwart, he can do it. Misa is just an incredible player that in most drafts could contend for the #1 spot. As an exceptional skater, great person, and with a motor that never quits, Misa would be an amazing add to the Blackhawks. He could very well make the opening night roster if he ends up in Chicago — here’s to hoping!

Quotes

Misa has been compared to a lot of top-end players, but ranging from Dylan Larkin to Marian Hossa (!!!), as The Athletic‘s Scott Wheeler does in the quote below:

Misa was the player I had the toughest time with in this exercise. I think there’s a little Misa was the player I had the toughest time with in this exercise. I think there’s a little Dylan Larkin in his profile. I think there’s a little Sam Reinhart in his profile (though he’s a much better skater than Reinhart was). I think there’s some early years Paul Stastny to him when Stastny was a 70-plus point guy, but again, he’s a better skater and will have a better career and a high peak in all likelihood. I think there’s some Logan Couture, but again, I didn’t love it. And then I started going back in time and arrived at Hossa, which felt too lofty as a Hall of Famer but fit for me as a player type. Both are 6-foot-1 and are skilled, but can play in different ways. I’ve always admired Hossa’s career for the different chapters it had and the different players he was over time. I think Misa could become different things depending on his linemates, his role and his usage. It’s still not perfect, but it was the closest I came.

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff has been similarly optimistic in his evaluation of Misa, enforcing the idea that Misa really has it all.

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.

Disclaimer: L_B_R also desrves credit as an author for writing and editing this article!

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