There were a lot of smoke screens and rumors flying around that had scouts and reporters all over the NHL confused about what the Sharks were going to do with the second overall pick in this year’s draft. It added a lot of intrigue and content to podcasts across the league. But in the end, despite all of the talk, the Sharks did exactly what the fans wanted the team to do and picked Michael Misa with the second overall pick.
Michael Misa's heading to Shark territory! 🦈
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2025
📺: 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/tfwMmxbehG
He jumped on social media to say “hi” quickly.
Sharks fans, there's someone we'd like you to meet! pic.twitter.com/t8H3Y5ybri
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 28, 2025
As we talked about in a previous post, Misa was an offensive juggernaut in the OHL last season. He was the MVP of the regular season, scoring 134 points in 65 games. In his post-draft interview, Misa told the media he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL. Odds are, the Sharks will consider giving him a shot, especially if the team thinks that fellow Saginaw Spirit teammate Igor Chernyshov is ready to jump as well.
As Rachel Doerrie wrote for ESPN, “Scouts believe he is NHL-ready and has the potential to become an elite top-line center. Away from the puck, Misa excels at finding soft areas in coverage and has a flair for delivering in clutch moments. His combination of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring ability makes him a constant dual threat in the offensive zone. His two-way game has taken a noticeable step forward with improved backchecking, defensive awareness and commitment to a 200-foot game. Paired with his explosive speed and offensive firepower, Misa profiles as a foundational player.”
Mark Dube of McKeen’s Hockey said Misa is probably the “closest NHL-ready draft-eligible player” in the class.
“What you get in a prospect from Michael Misa is a combination of size, advanced skating abilities, scoring and playmaking touch, along with an understanding of defensive play. He checks off all the boxes when it comes to a hockey player who understands the responsibilities on and off the ice that can help a team win. As in any prospect, there are some details in his game that need to be refined, but nothing too complicated or to be concerned about,” wrote Dube.
The next week or so will be key. If the Sharks sign Misa, it means that he could not go the NCAA route. It would only leave the OHL as an option. If that happened, Misa’s exceptional status would mean that he would only have to spend one more season in the OHL before he could jump to the AHL or NHL from there. That’s if the Sharks wanted to go that route. Of course, the Sharks will have the final say.
What number will Misa wear?
As for what number he’ll wear, San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng reported that Misa is looking to wear 77.
Misa hopes to wear No. 77 for #SJSharks
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) June 28, 2025
According to Hockey-Reference, the Sharks have never had a player wear the number 77.
