This year is going to be a tough year for NHL teams to make OHL decisions come the draft. This year is stocked up with some of the biggest talent for the first time in quite a few years. In Erie, Matthew Schaefor had topped the OHL prospects for TSN’s picks at the number three spot and teammate Malcome Spence was just right behind him. In Brampton, Porter Martone is looking to become another high draft pick. But so far, Michael Misa has been explosive in his draft year and there has only been a handful of games to go by.
Memorial Cup Winner, Exceptional Status Player, OHL Rookie of the Year. Already at 17-years-old, Misa has one of the most impressive resumes in the league. But what the Oakville native has achieved pales in comparison of what he is like on the ice. He is a point-producer with a smart eye that is able to get risky chances that produce goals.
Right now, scouts from media outlets have Misa around 3-7 in the draft pick. While that may not get the headlines of a number one pick, it’s a very deserving rank for an offensive genius.
When he was playing against the Windsor Spitfire, he had an explosive first period where he scored two goals. His only two goals of the game but important goals. The first came in a powerplay after the Spitfire got an early goal in the game, but the Spirit had started to attack Joey Costanzo in hopes to get a goal. After a few minutes, Costanzo had struggled to cover the puck under his foot and Misa took advantage of that to poke a goal in.
Soon after with the game tied up, defenceman Joey Willis passes to Misa at the opposite side of the ice and with Costanzo going down early in an attempt to save the puck, Misa choses the top left of the net to give the Spirit the lead.
That would be the last goal Misa would score in the game as the Spirit would lose in overtime, 5-4. Misa was the only player to score more than one goal in the game and he had the most shots of any player on either team with six attempts. He also had a 63 per cent win rate at the faceoff.
He showed in game one why he is being talked about by NHL scouts and the media. But what wasn’t really shown in highlights or really the first game is his ability to start plays that turn into goals. Misa is great at understanding who is the best person to pass to end the play with hopefully a goal.
We saw a few times especially when the team was down a point behind where Misa was looking to pass to Kristian Epperson a few times but it did feel like the Spitfire had answers for the top line after 30 minutes of play in the game.
It wasn’t a perfect first game but it did show a glimpse of what Misa has in store for this year and it will be a pleasure for Spirit fans to watch him throughout the season.