The case for Michael Misa as the top forward prospect in 2025
Michael Misa, one of only nine players ever granted exceptional status in the Canadian Hockey League, has quickly emerged as a top-three prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft.
In fact, there’s even a chance he could secure the top spot if he continues his impressive performance down the stretch.
Misa, No. 3 in FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 draft, has been dominating the competition this year, but his rise began during his rookie season in 2022-23 with Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League. In his first season with exceptional status, Misa recorded 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) in 45 games, maintaining a point-per-game pace. He also added eight points (three goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games that year.
Last season, he continued to excel, posting 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) in 67 games. He also contributed 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 17 playoff games. While his points-per-game average dipped slightly in his second season, his consistency at such a young age remains remarkable. This performance placed him under the microscope heading into this season, and he has seized the opportunity in spectacular fashion.
So far this year, in 59 games, Misa has amassed 124 points (58 goals, 66 assists), putting him on pace for an astounding 137 points over a 65-game schedule — representing a massive leap forward compared to his previous two seasons and, potentially, the most from an NHL Draft eligible from the OHL since Patrick Kane in 2006-07, and the fourth-highest mark in the CHL in the last 20 years, trailing Sidney Crosby (168 points; 2004-05), Connor Bedard (143 points; 2022-23), and Kane (145 points; 2006-07).
While his point totals are undeniably impressive, what truly sets Misa apart?
What allows him to dominate so consistently?
And what can NHL teams expect from him in the future?
We examine
Misa’s skating
Misa, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward, has a strong physical presence. Coming into the season, one of the main criticisms of his game was his skating ability. While he wasn’t considered a poor skater, his straight-line speed was average at best. However, as the season has progressed, he has completely rewritten that narrative. Though he isn’t a speedster, he has developed into an above-average straight-line skater. His edgework is exceptional, allowing him to stop on a dime and change directions quickly to evade defenders.
With his improved skating speed and excellent edges, Misa has already established himself as a very good skater for his size. His rapid game-to-game improvement also suggests he has room to grow further in this area, especially with the potential guidance of NHL skating coaches in the future. That’s a daunting thought, as it raises Misa’s ceiling even higher and makes him an even more dangerous player.
But how exactly does his skating elevate his game?
Offensive zone impacts
Coming into the season, Misa was already known as a player who could be relied on to consistently position himself in the right spots for scoring chances. His off-puck positioning was outstanding, as he constantly found ways to stay in passing lanes for his teammates and moved his feet to place himself in optimal scoring areas. His goal-scoring ability was well-documented, as evidenced by the 51 goals he scored over his first two OHL seasons. However, other aspects of his offensive game didn’t stand out as prominently. His playmaking was primarily focused on making safe, smart plays rather than pushing the pace or taking risks. While he occasionally flashed elite passing ability, it wasn’t a defining feature of his game.
This season, however, Misa has taken a massive leap forward offensively. His goal-scoring remains exceptional—he has already surpassed the combined goal totals from his first two seasons. But it’s his playmaking that has truly blossomed, further enhancing his goal-scoring opportunities. His multifaceted game makes him incredibly difficult to defend. Additionally, his impact as a forechecker cannot be overlooked; he consistently forces opponents into mistakes, creating scoring chances for himself and his teammates.
Misa has developed a complete offensive game with immense upside, and his hockey IQ and work ethic suggest he will translate seamlessly to the NHL level.
High-danger passing ability and vision is evident
In three randomly tracked games from this season, Misa has shone as a passer in a significant way. He attempted 34 passes in the offensive zone at even strength, completing 19 of them (a 55.88% completion rate). Among those attempts, two generated shot assists (the primary pass leading to a shot on goal), and one created a scoring chance. While these numbers may seem low, they don’t reflect a lack of effort, as 18 of his passes (52.94%) were directed into high-danger areas of the ice.
Breaking it down further, he completed two of six cross-ice passes and three of twelve centered passes (those aimed into the slot). Of the incomplete passes, five were intercepted by opponents, while nine were inaccurate but did not directly result in turnovers. Importantly, although he frequently attempted high-risk passes into dangerous areas, he rarely put his team in vulnerable positions with costly turnovers.
The confidence and vision he displayed in these attempts are hallmarks of a high-level playmaker and someone teams can build around.
Misa’s passing on special teams
Meanwhile, on the power play in those same three games, Misa attempted 27 offensive zone passes, completing 22 of them (an 81.48% completion rate). Among those attempts, he generated six shot assists (a 22.22% shot assist rate) and five scoring chances (an 18.52% scoring chance generation rate). These results were largely due to his 10 dangerous pass attempts (37.04% of his total passes).
Taking a closer look, he completed one of two cross-ice passes and four of eight centering passes. His vision was on full display here, as he moved the puck effectively and identified the right moments to deliver passes into high-danger areas for his teammates. Misa was absolutely dynamic on the power play, consistently making opposing teams pay for taking penalties.
Additionally, he went three-for-three on the penalty kill, including two dangerous pass attempts. He recorded two shot assists, one of which led to a scoring chance and an assist. Misa’s ability to impact the game offensively in all three phases — even strength, power play, and penalty kill — is truly remarkable and a testament to his exceptional skill.
High-danger shooting shines for Misa
Across those same three games, Misa attempted 13 shots, all at even strength. He hit the net on 9 of them, including one goal, resulting in an on-goal shooting percentage of 69.23%—one of the highest marks among tracked players in this draft class. Even more impressive is that 8 of his shots were dangerous by type (deflections, shots off the rush, one-timers), accounting for 61.54% of his attempts. Additionally, 6 of his shots were dangerous by location (from the home-plate area or deflections), representing 46.15% of his total shots. His ability to consistently generate dangerous shots by both type and location highlights his intelligence away from the puck and his knack for winning positioning battles.
Misa also excels in stickhandling, which allows him to win one-on-one battles and create space to get into high-danger areas. His ability to attack with the puck on his own, combined with his consistent playmaking, makes him an incredibly difficult player to defend. If defenders play him tightly, he can find an open teammate or stickhandle his way into space. If they play more loosely, focusing on taking away passing options, he’ll exploit the open ice and fire a hard, accurate shot with a strong chance of finding the back of the net.
Misa’s shooting on special teams
Meanwhile, on the power play, Misa fired five shots, with three hitting the net (a 60% on-goal rate), including two goals. Four of his shots were dangerous by type (80% rate), and one was dangerous by location (20% rate). His one-timer proved to be a lethal weapon for his team on the power play.
Four of Misa’s five shots came from his one-timer, with two hitting the net and one resulting in a goal. His one-timer combines power and accuracy, and his ability to position himself effectively to unleash it is a highly projectable trait. This is what makes Misa so intriguing: his best attributes are ones that should ease his transition to higher levels of play. His hockey IQ is exceptional, and his raw skills are undeniable. He is a special talent.
While shorthanded, Misa once again made a significant impact. He recorded three shot attempts in those situations, with two hitting the net, including one goal. Two of those shots were dangerous by location, both coming from the slot, and all three were dangerous by type, with the goal occurring off the rush.
Misa’s offensive game summarized
Overall, Misa makes an incredible impact in the offensive zone as both a passer and a shooter. His hockey IQ shines with and without the puck, which has been key to his consistent success. Misa’s strong work ethic is another major asset, enabling him to dominate not only as a passer and shooter but also as a forechecker. As previously mentioned, he is a highly complete offensive player who can excel in any situation.
To highlight his effectiveness as a forechecker, he forced 13 turnovers off the forecheck across all situations, averaging 4.33 takeaways per game. This is a testament to how efficient and impactful he is in every aspect of the offensive zone. Given these traits, there’s little doubt about his potential at the NHL level. Based on his offensive game alone, he has the tools to become a top-line, elite forward.
Misa in transition
When it comes to transitioning the puck up the ice, Misa is a fascinating case. Similar to his skating, he has shown significant improvement in this area. Specifically, he has become more of a focal point for his team during transitions, particularly when entering the offensive zone. Alongside his improved skating and what appears to be a boost in confidence, he has developed into a dominant presence. Combining his hockey IQ with his raw stickhandling skills, as well as his skating and size, Misa has proven he can be a reliable and effective player in transition, capable of leading his own line.
When it comes to exiting his own zone, Misa’s improvements are evident in both his increased involvement and reduced mistakes. Over the course of the tracked games, he turned the puck over less frequently in the defensive end. This led to more controlled zone exits initiated by him and fewer failed attempts. While he still isn’t heavily involved in this aspect of the game, it’s clear he is far from a liability when moving the puck into the neutral zone to start a breakout.
Misa entering the offensive zone
Across the three tracked games, Misa was directly involved in 29 of his team’s 73 zone entries while he was on the ice at even strength. That’s an involvement rate of 39.73%, which may seem low but is actually above the average of 26 tracked forwards (33.17%). Of his 29 attempts, he successfully generated 19 controlled entries (either through carry-ins or primary passes that led to an entry). This represents a controlled entry rate of 65.52%, again above the average (58.49%).
Diving deeper, Misa had an individual carry-in rate of 41.38%, as 12 of his 29 attempts came from him skating the puck into the offensive zone himself. In terms of progression across the three games, his involvement rate increased as follows: 28.57% in Game 1, 26.67% in Game 2, and 58.62% in Game 3. His total entry attempts also rose significantly: 4 in Game 1, 8 in Game 2, and 17 in Game 3.
On the power play, Misa was involved in 10 of his team’s 20 entry attempts (a 50% involvement rate). Of his 10 attempts, 8 were successful, resulting in an 80% controlled entry rate. This time, a majority of his successful entries (5) came via passes to teammates to enter the zone. The numbers don’t lie: Misa is an exceptional talent and a clear impact player in transition. Like his offensive game, the traits he has shown in this area are highly translatable.
His vision with the puck, his ability to time attacks through skating and passing lanes, and his raw skill are all evident and projectable to higher levels of hockey. While he may not develop into an elite transitional player, he is clearly talented enough to become a positive presence in this area for the team that drafts him.
Misa exiting the defensive zone
When it came to exiting his own zone, Misa was directly involved in 15 of his team’s 62 total exit attempts while he was on the ice at even strength. That’s an involvement rate of 24.19%. Of his 15 attempts, he successfully exited the zone on 10 occasions (a 66.67% controlled exit rate), including four carry-outs. He failed to exit the zone completely on three attempts, with one additional attempt resulting in an icing.
When his team was shorthanded, Misa was directly involved in 9 of his team’s 19 exit attempts (a 47.37% involvement rate). Of those 9 attempts, 2 were controlled exits, while another 4 resulted in clearing the zone without possession. This represents a clearance rate of 22.22% with control and 66.67% overall. The remaining 3 attempts failed to clear the zone entirely.
Defensive zone impact
With how well Misa performs in the offensive zone, paired with his relatively low involvement in zone exits as shown by the numbers, one might assume he isn’t a positive defensive presence. However, that’s not the case. Misa’s size, work ethic, anticipation, and ability to read the play all shine in his own end. At even strength, he recorded 20 defensive zone puck touches across the three tracked games. He turned the puck over just 3 times, resulting in a turnover rate of 15%. Additionally, he forced eight takeaways of his own, including intercepting opponents’ passes, which created opportunities to exit the zone. He also contributed a blocked shot during those minutes.
As mentioned, Misa also saw time on the penalty kill in those games. This season, he has logged 159:08 of penalty-killing time. Compared to his power-play time (214:40), it’s clear he is trusted as both a top power-play and penalty-kill specialist. In the three tracked games, he had 9 defensive zone puck touches while shorthanded. He turned the puck over 3 times (a 33.33% turnover rate). While that number is high, he still forced more turnovers (4) than he conceded, including two instances where he intercepted opponents’ passes. He also added another blocked shot.
Misa may not be a game-changer in the defensive zone, as he has occasionally shown lapses in positional judgment. Additionally, his eagerness to push the pace offensively can sometimes detract from his defensive focus. Nevertheless, his impact across all three zones remains impressive. His defensive maturity and effort will earn the respect of coaches at every level.
Projection: Where will he go and what role will he play?
Misa is unquestionably a top-three talent. Given that he was granted exceptional status as a youngster, combined with the significant leap in his development this season, there’s little doubt that teams with top-three selections will be keeping a close eye on him. But what’s his projection to the NHL? With his outstanding and well-rounded offensive game, a solid 200-foot presence, good size, and consistent, noticeable improvement game by game, Misa has an exceptionally high ceiling. He easily projects as a future top-line player. Additionally, he has the versatility to play both center and wing, along with significant special teams upside.
While he may not become a top penalty-kill player in the NHL, he could still contribute in that role in some capacity. His power-play potential, however, is particularly tantalizing. He has the tools to become a major threat in that role for whichever team selects him.
Misa’s game carries serious NHL upside, and any team would be thrilled to call his name on draft day.
What others are saying
“Misa, who played left wing in this game but can also play center, is an electrifying forward whose game revolves around quickness, creativity, and high hockey IQ. His speed is a constant threat, whether he’s carrying the puck or pressuring defenses without it. He excels at pushing defenders back, creating space for himself and his teammates, and his quick burst from a standstill makes him a weapon in small-area puck battles. Misa’s effort and intelligence is evident in his relentless pursuit of loose pucks and his ability to find quiet areas in the offensive zone where he can exploit defensive lapses. His head is always up, scanning the ice and evaluating his options.” – FCHockey scout Aaron Vickers
“Misa is a versatile and dangerous forward with elite agility and vision, complementing his high-end skating ability and impressive puck skills. A household name for a few seasons, he has taken a significant step forward in consistency and production this season. His elite edgework and quickness allow him to create space in board battles and high-traffic areas, giving him time to survey for passing lanes. He excels at carrying the puck in transition, using his speed to maintain possession in the offensive zone and drive play for his linemates. Misa’s patience and vision with the puck enable him to make difficult plays through the middle lane, and he is a dual shooting or passing threat from the wing on the power play. His ability to make plays at high speed generates numerous dangerous chances off the rush, showcasing his puck skills.” FCHockey scout Joseph Aleong
Misa’s tracked games
- December 14, 2024 at Erie Otters
- January 10, 2025 at Erie Otters
- February 8, 2025 at Guelph Storm
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