Next up on our draft profiles, the highest rated forward of the year
Welcome back to our feature on draft profiles for projected top picks in the upcoming 2025 NHL draft. Catch up with the previous one here:
For the rankings, we have turned to the venerable Bob McKenzie from TSN for his listing of players. McKenzie’s list is typically in-tune with the NHL, because his rankings are an average that comes from surveying 10 active NHL scouts. As such, the list is set as follows for players we will look to profile in the coming weeks to spread some awareness and knowledge for Pittsburgh NHL fans to get to know some of the top prospects.
No. 2: Michael Misa, 6’1” 185 pounds, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Misa was the eighth player granted an exceptional status and allowed to play Major Juniors at the age of 15. Like many of the others who went before him (John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Shane Wright, Connor Bedard), Misa has lived up to the billing and will be picked right near the top of the NHL draft.
Misa scored 62 goals in 65 games and put up 134 points in the OHL this season — winning the scoring title by 10 points. Not bad at all. Jesse Marshall clipped together the first 58 goals of the season.
A lot to like there. Misa has the details in his game that’s made him an extremely special player from a very young age and he’s remained there through the all-important teen-aged developmental years. It’s no wonder he’s expected to be the first forward off the board at the draft, and maybe even the first prospect in general to hear his name called.
They said it
Here are some samples from various scouting websites to give an idea of what the experts are seeing in this player.
“I question myself for questioning him,” said Button of Misa. “All the evidence was there. All you need to do is continue to watch the progression and the progression is there.
“He’s been brilliant. He’s a hell of a player.”
Misa feels the game unlike almost any other player I’ve seen in the last few years. Passes that appear difficult or poorly thought out are cleanly placed through tiny spaces. He has the capacity to wait an extra split second to create better chances and evaluate secondary options. He isn’t a pure sniper, but he’s a diverse and capable scorer. He isn’t a fancy spin-passing playmaker, but he cuts defenses to pieces. He doesn’t move his feet like some of the high motor players out there, but calling him slow would be incorrect. He’s explosive, jumps into space effectively, and picks his times to be quick extremely effectively.
A natural center coming up, Misa played mostly on the wing in his first two seasons but has taken off in the move back to the middle this year, playing to nearly a goal per game and over two points per game — a pace that might finish as one of the most productive draft-eligible OHL seasons of all time.
Misa is a beautiful skater with some quiet explosiveness and a real knack for weaving, cutting, turning and spinning in control of the puck to either shake defenders under pressure in the offensive or defensive zone or slip past them in transition with his speed and agility. He’s also a very smart player who makes his linemates better with his playmaking, vision and ability to execute while tightly covered. Off the puck, he’s willing to track, stick with plays and compete (I’ve seen him sacrifice the body to block shots, etc.), hallmarks of his game in minor hockey that have also been more consistent this year — though I’d argue they were always present and he played a more well-rounded game last year than he was given credit for by some. He finishes his checks and has good defensive instincts on interceptions and support. He gets the puck a lot and then protects it beautifully. There are times when he’ll turn over pucks, or when I’d like to see him work to get open and glide less, but he has done a nice job cutting back on both of those this season and has been a top player in the OHL at five-on-five, on the penalty kill (where he leads the league in short-handed points), and on the power play.
Misa is coming off one of the most impressive goal-scoring campaigns we’ve ever seen in the OHL. He just knows where to get the puck and can fire at will. I also think Misa’s ability to play both center and wing should take him far, although I expect him to be a winger in the NHL. He continues to find ways to get into scoring positions and impact his team in the best way possible. If I was a coach and needed someone to score a big goal late to win a game, Misa would be my pick – he has the best offensive instincts of any player in this draft. I want to see him battle harder more often (it feels like he cheats up the ice sometimes) but he’s got the pure skill to be a top-line NHLer sooner rather than later.