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

[ORRFForever]

I mean, sure, there were some mitigating circumstances. But eventually those mitigating circumstances have to go from excuses to proving out the expectation of what will change. It wasn’t a good season. I think it’s generally rational that a player sees a fall when they have a weak season, whether there were mitigating circumstances or not.

And now if he can keep up his good start he’ll have a chance to move back up. I don’t see how any of that is unfair or stupid.

It wasn't. Yours was a good post. Short, concise, answered my question.

 

[HuGort]

Has 7 goals in 3 games he's off to great start. Will he be winger or center?

 

[kyle44]

I mean, sure, there were some mitigating circumstances. But eventually those mitigating circumstances have to go from excuses to proving out the expectation of what will change. It wasn’t a good season. I think it’s generally rational that a player sees a fall when they have a weak season, whether there were mitigating circumstances or not.

And now if he can keep up his good start he’ll have a chance to move back up. I don’t see how any of that is unfair or stupid.

I take the point that having a lower ppg than the previous year and "only" producing 75 points as an exceptional status player may be considered somewhat concerning.

However, he put up the 9th most points by a 16-year old in the OHL in the last 25 years, only behind the likes of McDavid, Tavares X2, Stamkos, Hall, Derek Roy and Galchenyuk. He was also 8th at the Hlinka in scoring as an underager. I certainty wouldn't characterize that as a "weak" season. It may have been below expectation given his 15-year old season, but he outperformed other high-end OHLers in their 16-year old season (Marner, Seguin, O Reilly, Skinner, Konecny, Byfield, Perfetti, etc.) even with injury issues.

 

[Mathieukferland]

exceptional status player

I would not consider him a traditional exceptional status player either; he was denied initially, but (and this is just what I’ve heard from people aware of the situation, not what I know personally) after a strong OHL cup, OHF and hockey Canada awarded him exceptional status as there was some fear he would go the Chicago Steel->NCAA route. Still a top prospect and think what he’s shown to start the year is that, as an 07, he can be the best CHL forward prospect in this draft compared to late 06s like McQueen and Martone

 

[NA Hockey]

I take the point that having a lower ppg than the previous year and "only" producing 75 points as an exceptional status player may be considered somewhat concerning.

However, he put up the 9th most points by a 16-year old in the OHL in the last 25 years, only behind the likes of McDavid, Tavares X2, Stamkos, Hall, Derek Roy and Galchenyuk. He was also 8th at the Hlinka in scoring as an underager. I certainty wouldn't characterize that as a "weak" season. It may have been below expectation given his 15-year old season, but he outperformed other high-end OHLers in their 16-year old season (Marner, Seguin, O Reilly, Skinner, Konecny, Byfield, Perfetti, etc.) even with injury issues.

Not sure I would say he outperformed all of those guys. Being exceptional status means you have a year of experience under your belt and you should be so much more comfortable and prepared for your 16 year old year with 60+ plus games under your belt compared to a regular 16 year old coming straight out of U16. He also played more games last year than a typical 16 year old because he didn't miss time for the u17's. He also was playing on a stacked Mem Cup champ team, receiving more playing than most 16 year olds do in their first year because of his experience.

Staying in Saginaw for reference:

He scored 1 more than Perfetti in 4 more games with a year of experience under his belt.

Perfetti 74 points in 63 games - 1.17 ppg

Misa had 75 points in 67 games - 1.12 ppg

That being said, he obviously had a great season and is off to a torrid start to this year and will be a top pick in the draft.

 

[kyle44]

Not sure I would say he outperformed all of those guys. Being exceptional status means you have a year of experience under your belt and you should be so much more comfortable and prepared for your 16 year old year with 60+ plus games under your belt compared to a regular 16 year old coming straight out of U16. He also played more games last year than a typical 16 year old because he didn't miss time for the u17's. He also was playing on a stacked Mem Cup champ team, receiving more playing than most 16 year olds do in their first year because of his experience.

Staying in Saginaw for reference:

He scored 1 more than Perfetti in 4 more games with a year of experience under his belt.

Perfetti 74 points in 63 games - 1.17 ppg

Misa had 75 points in 67 games - 1.12 ppg

That being said, he obviously had a great season and is off to a torrid start to this year and will be a top pick in the draft.

All I am saying here is that, regardless of him receiving exceptional status, I don't think it is justified to claim that he had a weak season when he put together a top ten (statistical) 16-year old OHL season in the last 25 years while battling injuries.

It is not his fault that he was deemed worthy to play in the league at 15 when some of those others I cited weren't. We have no idea how they would've performed at 16 had they been given exceptional status; the OHL isn't an easy league to play in at 16. I can buy into those saying they expected more based on his 15-year old season, but I don't think it is fair to say he had a "weak" season.

 

[ORRFForever]

2 periods in, he has a goal. Let's hope he can get another point before the night is through.

Edit : Misa finished with a goal and the First Star. Not sure why Zayne Parekh wasn't the first star - 3 A + Shootout winner.

 

[Mathieukferland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1842707375486316577

Wow, didn’t notice it as much at Hlinka last year, but those first 3 steps he has developed are super impressive; what acceleration

 

[ORRFForever]

That's 9.... plus an assist.

 

[Kingpin794]

10 now and should have another 2. He just looks so good out there

 

[ORRFForever]

10 now and should have another 2. He just looks so good out there

He certainly is on fire.

 

[Finster8]

Nothing really surprised me more than that off the mark acceleration. His shot, IQ, size, strength on the puck, playmaking have been steady. Hope to see him around 50 goals

 

[Mathieukferland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1845598190445248811

11 goals in 7 games to start off the season. In my opinion the CHL forward with highest ceiling in the upcoming draft

 

[FromChaos22]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1845598190445248811

11 goals in 7 games to start off the season. In my opinion the CHL forward with highest ceiling in the upcoming draft

How much worse is the roster this year?

 

[Juxtaposer]

How much worse is the roster this year?

They lost Beck, Dionicio, Haight, Bloom, Hache, and Donavan. So a lot worse, although with improvements like this for Misa, another strong year from Parekh, and a hopefully healthy Chernyshov in the new year, I wouldn't count them out.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

One of the few players in this draft that is a true threat every time he’s on the ice. It doesn’t matter if it’s PP, PK, or 5v5. The guy is a monster. You can just tell he such a driven player. This is the type of player you want on your team. He’s a guy that has shown he is willing to put the work in on the defensive end, he is an absolute workhorse, he thinks the game at a high level, and he can absolutely bury the puck.

Misa just has that it-factor. I know when I hear McQueen’s name before Misa in 2025, I’m going to be losing my mind.

 

[Mathieukferland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847749096800735579

If he can show that his game projects to the NHL the way he did in his 15 year old season and so far this year, I think there’s a non-zero percentage chance he goes first…. Very symbolic him blowing by Martone there to score

 

[Kingpin794]

They lost Beck, Dionicio, Haight, Bloom, Hache, and Donavan. So a lot worse, although with improvements like this for Misa, another strong year from Parekh, and a hopefully healthy Chernyshov in the new year, I wouldn't count them out.

Yeah I think if they can find a way to get some help on D, it’s a 42-45 win team with a bunch of experience still on the roster.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847749096800735579

If he can show that his game projects to the NHL the way he did in his 15 year old season and so far this year, I think there’s a non-zero percentage chance he goes first…. Very symbolic him blowing by Martone there to score

He outplayed Martone today. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like both guys didn’t have great games. But, Misa was the better player today.