The Michael Misa Plan

With training camp right around the corner, the Michael Misa decision will need to be made soon. Misa, the second overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has stated that he wants to make the NHL this season. It also seems that San Jose will give him every opportunity to do so.

We can already cross off the AHL as a place for Misa to spend the season because he doesn't qualify yet to play. Despite being an exceptional status player, Misa only has three seasons in Juniors, whereas you need to have completed four. Misa is also only 18 and doesn't turn 19 until February. To play in the AHL (coming from the CHL), you need to be at least 20 (or turn 20 before January 15th, à la Luca Cagnoni).

Starting in the 2026-27 season, the new CBA will allow teams to pick one player to be eligible to play in the AHL despite not qualifying under the current rules. For players like Quentin Musty last season and Sam Dickinson this upcoming season, it would give them more options to play, even if they've already signed their ELC.

With the AHL not an option, this realistically gives Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks three realistic options for Misa this season.

The NCAA Route

As we creep closer to training camp, this option seems less likely. NCAA teams are starting to report, players are attending classes, and all the preseason activities, such as player photos, are happening.

Misa would be a massive piece for any program looking to add a first-line center to their program. A team like Penn State (where Michael Misa's brother Luke currently attends) would be sporting a potential top line of

Gavin McKenna-Michael Misa-Aiden Fink

McKenna is the projected 1st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Misa was the 2nd overall pick in the 2025 Draft, and Fink led the BIG 10 in scoring last season. That's ridiculous. Sorry to Sharks' 7th round pick, Reese Laubach, in this scenario, as he takes a back seat to Misa. While Penn State would love this, it seems unlikely at this time.

This isn't to say that a program wouldn't take Michael Misa with open arms (even for just one season). If Misa were planning on going to college, he'd probably be enrolled already. How long until Misa is dominating the college level before people are asking if it's too easy for him?? Even if Misa went to another program like one of the Boston schools or Denver, expect Misa to be one of the best players in the country as soon as Thanksgiving.

Back To Juniors

While this an option, it also feels like the worst case scenario. Here is a list of things Michael Misa won last season:

CHL First All-Star Team
CHL Top Scorer Award (134)
OHL First All-Star Team
OHL Most Outstanding Player (Red Tilson Trophy)
OHL Most Points (Eddie Powers Trophy) (134)
OHL Scholastic Player of the Year (Bobby Smith Trophy)

Misa is already a CHL champion, having defeated the London Knights in the spring of 2024. He has nothing left to prove at the CHL level. If Misa did go back, the thought would be that Saginaw would trade him for a ransom for a team looking to go on a deep playoff run. Saginaw has lost some of their top end talent in Zayne Parekh, Igor Chernyshov, and Kristian Epperson. Recouping a ton of picks and prospects to reload would make the most sense for the reigning MVP.

For Misa, playing on a top team would be fun, but he's would just end up scoring a ton of points again and go on a long playoff march. All have their merits, but would he actually be a better player a year from now? Probably, but most likely not by that much.

Staying With The Sharks

The most likely outcome for Misa is to play in the NHL for the entire season. While Misa is a much cleaner prospect than Will Smith, even after Smith competed a season at Boston College, using the Smith Path to Success makes the most sense. Will Smith got a lot of development days early on in his NHL career to allow Smith to continue to get stronger and work on his skills. We saw Smith finish the season with 30 points in the last 34 games, just one behind Macklin Celebrini in that same time frame.

For Misa, playing him in a simlar role and situations as Smith would make the most sense. If Celebrini is the 1C and Smith wins the 2C as expected in training camp. Pairing Misa with savy vet Alex Wennberg on the third line would be the best for all parties. Misa would help provide some scoring pop to the line and have Wennberg down the middle would take pressure off of Misa to play center from the jump. Misa can also be in the mix for some power play time.

Michael Misa vs Windsor 3/15/2025

With Michael Misa expected to compete for a roster spot with the San Jose Sharks this fall, it’s a great time to look back at some of his performances in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit and see what traits will translate and where Misa will need to continue to

The ReefJD Young

The ramp up for Misa to have his "training wheels" taken off should be a shorter time than with Smith despite being a full year younger. Misa's already used to a longer season in the OHL where they play a 68 game schedule, compared to the 40+ games of the NCAA. Misa already was used in all situations with Saginaw and has better details in his game. While expecting Misa to make a Celebrini impact right away might be too much to ask for, he could be an every night player pushing for a top-six role by Christmas time.

Yes, there will be ups-and-downs with an 18-year old in the lineup, but the coaching staff and front office have already shown that they can handle not one, but two teenagers in the lineup. Having Misa play in the NHL this season will make him a better player in the longer run. Plus, I'm sure the Thornton's will have a room for Misa.