Saginaw Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill was well aware of Michael Misa long before they first met. In OHL circles, word travels fast, and scouting reports emerge early. Michael`s older brother, Luke, was already playing in the league, but even with that, the 14-year-old Michael Misa generated significantly more buzz than most players his age.
“Everyone always says, `Wait until you see his younger brother, this player,`” Drinkill recounts. “Sometimes such players fulfill expectations, and sometimes they fade away, and their names are never mentioned again.”
Misa definitely didn`t just meet expectations; he exceeded them.
“He`s one of those players who, when he`s on the ice — and he still is like this — makes you lean forward a bit; you expect something to happen,” says Drinkill, recalling those early scouting days. “Offensively, very creative. His hockey IQ is off the charts. He makes plays under pressure, and I think that`s a really hard thing to teach a young player — and he had that from a young age.”
The September tournament where Drinkill first saw him was just the beginning of a career-altering season for Misa. That season concluded with the Oakville, Ont. native breaking Connor McDavid`s OHL Cup scoring record (Misa had 21 points in seven games) before joining the Edmonton Oilers superstar in the exclusive club of players granted Exceptional Player status by the CHL. This also marked the start of a new chapter for Drinkill, who, weeks after that designation, drafted Misa first overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft.
Here`s what you need to know about the NHL prospect who has lived up to that exceptional billing ever since.
- Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
- Position: Centre/Left Wing
- Shoots: Left
- Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
- Age: 18 (Feb. 16, 2007)
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 185 pounds
What the Scouts Are Saying
It was Misa`s hockey IQ and clear understanding of the game that first stood out to Drinkill. And it is this vision, combined with his power, undeniable speed, and accurate scoring touch, that makes him such a coveted prospect — and one who won`t have to wait long to learn his fate on draft night.
“He makes players better, and he often creates something out of nothing,” says Drinkill. “Even as the GM, watching from above, sometimes you think the play is maybe dead or going nowhere, that perhaps we need to look for something different, and then he`ll make a play out of nothing, execute small plays under pressure, and create scoring chances for us.”
The winger-turned-center embraced the transition to his preferred position down the middle this season. As the Saginaw Spirit entrusted him with leading the offense — and midway through the 2024-25 campaign, the captaincy — his elite scoring prowess took center stage. This led Misa to climb in the monthly prospect rankings compiled by Sportsnet`s Sam Cosentino, starting at No. 5 and reaching the projected second-overall pick.
Misa`s two-way game is also receiving positive attention, and Drinkill hopes that his more underrated qualities, such as his ability to protect the puck and position his body effectively to create space and maximize plays, will also be recognized.
“His competitiveness is also important in battling for loose pucks in the corner. He`s not afraid at all — it doesn`t matter if he was 15 or now,” says Drinkill. “And playing at the NHL level, I`m sure he`s going to go in there and get that puck. That competitiveness might be a bit underrated for him.”
From Canada Camp Snub to Saginaw C and OHL MVP: Misa Made the Most of His Draft Year
More than a few eyebrows were raised when, shortly after Misa`s draft year began, he was left off Hockey Canada`s list of evaluation camp invites for the 2025 World Junior Championship. Other notable players also weren`t invited, but considering Misa`s position at the top of the CHL goals and points leaderboards, it was a particularly perplexing omission.
But that wasn`t going to define Misa`s crucial draft campaign — the center made sure of that with a scoring surge in the second half of the season. In his first 13 games after the snub, Misa tallied 26 points. In January, he registered his 200th career OHL point, setting a new franchise record as the fastest player to reach the mark (148 games). He put together a 28-game point streak and by season`s end had racked up 62 goals and 72 assists for 134 points in 65 games, leading the entire CHL.
His trophy case reflects his production. In addition to being named to the OHL First All-Star Team, Misa was also awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL`s Most Outstanding Player and was recognized as the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Earlier this month, the NHL presented Misa with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence.
How High Can Misa Climb? `I Wouldn`t Bet Against Him,` Says GM
“Obviously, like any young player, there`s going to be an adjustment period,” says Drinkill, when asked about Misa`s NHL potential. “But what I`ve learned about Mike is that he can adjust.”
Drinkill has seen this firsthand over Misa`s three years in Saginaw.
He watched a 15-year-old Misa live up to exceptional expectations as an underage rookie in 2022-23, leading all first-year players in points and earning the league`s rookie-of-the-year award. Then, he watched Misa elevate his game within a championship-contending core in 2023-24, learning from the club`s veterans and finishing second on the team in points en route to the club`s Memorial Cup victory. And this year, he watched Misa not only embrace the added pressure that comes with being a projected top-five pick but also thrive under it.
“Whether he was on the wing, on the first or second power play unit at a young age, he adjusted from minor hockey to our league,” says Drinkill. “I wouldn`t bet against him.”
Drinkill has relished the opportunity to see Misa excel with every new challenge and grow into his NHL potential.
“Whatever NHL team gets him, first and foremost, you`re getting an unbelievable person off the ice, a leader, a player that other players are going to want to learn from as he gets older at the NHL level,” says Drinkill. “And on the ice, I think you`re getting a star. I think you`re getting an offensively gifted player.
“As he gets going, as he gets his feet wet in the NHL and gets established, I think we`re going to see his game take off,” the GM adds. “He`s just a guy who is going to be a cornerstone franchise player for the team that drafts him.”
