F Michael Misa - Saginaw Spirit, OHL (2025 Draft)

[Corso]

This guy feels severely underrated as a prospect atm. If he had another three games like the leading scorers, he'd probably be top 5 despite his slow start. Easy to forget he's 16.

And his rookie season beats all other exceptional players, in terms of ppg vs the rest of the OHL. Not saying that makes him as good as McDavid, but he did perform better relatively to his peers.

To equal McDavid at 16 he should finnish top three in ppg this season. Seems doable!

Misa is the type of player that does everything well but has no exceptional qualities. He is worthy of a top 3 pick in next year's draft but don't expect a McDavid type of player.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Misa is the type of player that does everything well but has no exceptional qualities. He is worthy of a top 3 pick in next year's draft but don't expect a McDavid type of player.

Yeah I would agree with this, I felt a lack of “pop” in his game when I saw him at Hlinka. Good skater but not exceptional, good hands and vision but not incredible, good finisher but not Bédard. I think his ceiling is that of a first line elite player and not a franchise player

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Yeah I would agree with this, I felt a lack of “pop” in his game when I saw him at Hlinka. Good skater but not exceptional, good hands and vision but not incredible, good finisher but not Bédard. I think his ceiling is that of a first line elite player and not a franchise player

but those types can grow to leading your team to success
like stanley cup.

 

[Beukeboom]

Misa is the type of player that does everything well but has no exceptional qualities. He is worthy of a top 3 pick in next year's draft but don't expect a McDavid type of player.

I sometimes wonder if this new (?) "skills that pop" mindset has somewhat beclouded people's judgment. The main goal is to produce points and Misa seems to be exceptional at doing so for his age. Perhaps his evenness in skills creates room for underestimation?

Too early to speculate in any extreme upside, but I'd guess a Tavares level is reasonable to assume atm.

I'd like to see more from Hagens as well. Seems like two great candiates for No 1.

 

[MrCreamm]

Slow start for his hype, but he's heating up, and this is his second season in the O. Seems like perception is he's fallen back a little bit compared to before this season, but still very early who knows how his game will/won't develop next season.

 

[Beukeboom]

I don't understand why Saginaw isn't trying to use him as a center, which is his natural position. Now they have him in the second line as a winger, even though he has been the team's top scorer until recently.

 

[Kingpin794]

I don't understand why Saginaw isn't trying to use him as a center, which is his natural position. Now they have him in the second line as a winger, even though he has been the team's top scorer until recently.

Not really 2nd line. More like 1A and 1B. He didn’t play center all of last year either. It’s shouldn’t hurt things. He’ll play center next season in his draft year.

 

[Mctavishthegoalie23]

Having a bit of a underwhelming start to year 2

But so did Connor Bedard

 

[Beukeboom]

He's finally at center now. Since then he has four 2-point games (including his three last games). One 1 point, and one with nothing. So seems to have done wonders.

 

[rt]

He's finally at center now. Since then he has four 2-point games (including his three last games). One 1 point, and one with nothing. So seems to have done wonders.

He’s played six games at C? Didn’t they just trade for Beck? Will he now slide back to winger?

I watched maybe 6-8 Saginaw games earlier this season. But not lately.

 

[Beukeboom]

He’s played six games at C? Didn’t they just trade for Beck? Will he now slide back to winger?

I watched maybe 6-8 Saginaw games earlier this season. But not lately.

I watched the game last night, and he was still at c, and then backtracking in the scoresheets, it ends up being 6-7 games at c. Hopefully he's there to stay. No idea what their intentions are, and I don't keep up with trades.

Maybe someone more qualified can answer?

 

[Kingpin794]

I watched the game last night, and he was still at c, and then backtracking in the scoresheets, it ends up being 6-7 games at c. Hopefully he's there to stay. No idea what their intentions are, and I don't keep up with trades.

Maybe someone more qualified can answer?

He'll almost certainly slide back to wing. likely with Beck as his center

 

[Artorius Horus T]

4 points shy of 50 point mark.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's on a worse points pace than last season. 55 in 45 games this season. 56 in 45 games last season.

 

[Corso]

He's on a worse points pace than last season. 55 in 45 games this season. 56 in 45 games last season.

Following the Shane Wright path? Except do you still see him as a top five pick? Perhaps he's on the Veleno/Lambert trajectory and goes in the back half of the first round??

Interesting to see how he performs through the playoffs and into next year.

 

[WarriorofTime]

There is no better 07 born and ‘25 eligible CHL forward today, but someone could rise to challenge when they get more opportunity. Martone, Spence and McQueen all being late 06s. But given ES, Misa could be said to be more similar to those guys than other 07s as second year players.

 

[Kingpin794]

He's on a worse points pace than last season. 55 in 45 games this season. 56 in 45 games last season.

One thing I noticed when they were interviewing Misa last night is that he has grown a ton from last year. Draft day he was listed as 5 foot 9, 157lbs. EP has him at 6 foot 1 and 174 now. And he looks it. I think he's still getting use to this growth spurt. 4 inches and nearly 20 lbs is a bit of a change. But man when he acclimates, he's going to be hard to knock off the puck.

 

[BigHitter67]

One thing I noticed when they were interviewing Misa last night is that he has grown a ton from last year. Draft day he was listed as 5 foot 9, 157lbs. EP has him at 6 foot 1 and 174 now. And he looks it. I think he's still getting use to this growth spurt. 4 inches and nearly 20 lbs is a bit of a change. But man when he acclimates, he's going to be hard to knock off the puck.

that’s good point. Saw him play live couple weeks back and i was surprised at his increased height!

 

[montreal]

Interested to see how next season goes for him.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

29 goals, 75 points in the regular season, 3 goals, 5 points, +5 in 4 play-off games so far

 

[rt]

29 goals, 75 points in the regular season, 3 goals, 5 points, +5 in 4 play-off games so far

And he’s a hard nosed, gutsy player with a good motor. Easy to cheer for. Not sure he’s got rite skill but the whole is probably greater than the sum of parts.

 

[Kingpin794]

Also important to note that towards the end of the regular season and the first round, Saginaw moved Misa from wing to center.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Has the hype cooled? Little production growth from D-2 to D-1

 

[macbowes]

Certainly some shine has worn off him due to his production stagnating from his D-2 to his D-1. His skating remains elite, and he's transitioning to C, which could help solidify his stock, assuming he doesn't take steps backwards. Personally, I'm still a believer. As of now I expect him to go 2nd overall, and I don't think it's outlandish to think he could pass Hagens, although he's undoubtedly behind him at the moment.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Certainly some shine has worn off him due to his production stagnating from his D-2 to his D-1. His skating remains elite, and he's transitioning to C, which could help solidify his stock, assuming he doesn't take steps backwards. Personally, I'm still a believer. As of now I expect him to go 2nd overall, and I don't think it's outlandish to think he could pass Hagens, although he's undoubtedly behind him at the moment.

I'd probably take Porter Martone ahead of Misa if you put a gun to my head to make a pick today.