Is Matthew Schaefer the bonafide No. 1 overall pick in 2025? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Saginaw Spirit hosted the league's second-best team, the Kitchener Rangers, on Saturday, Feb. 1. The reigning Memorial Cup champions showed that even though they were sellers at the trade deadline, they still have a dangerous offensive team, led by their captain, Michael Misa. Misa has been dominating opposing OHL teams night in and night out since the start of the season. Saturday night he extended his point streak to 12 games with an assist and his 40th of the season. He's the second OHL player to hit the 40-goal plateau, after Chicago Blackhawks prospect and Brantford Bulldogs forward Nick Lardis [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/chicago-blackhawks-prospect-first-to-40-goals-in-the-ohl-canadian-hockey-league] hit it last week. Michael Misa (77) [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyNTQyNzgyODYwOTYxMjg5/misa_ns_3487.jpg] Michael Misa (77) The top-ranked NHL draft candidate for the 2025 draft has recorded 10 goals and 25 points during his recent hot streak. He is an offensive dynamo and a game-changer at the OHL level, with the potential to be exactly that in the NHL. Misa has already achieved his third point streak of 10 or more games this season. He started the year strong, with 18 goals and 28 points in just 14 games. However, his streak was interrupted by a loss to the Kitchener Rangers on Nov. 3. Following that, he began another impressive 14-game point streak on Nov. 7, which lasted until Dec. 14, during which he amassed an additional 33 points. NHL Central Scouting ranked as the third-best North American skater [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/matthew-schaefer-named-top-north-american-prospect-in-nhl-central-scouting-mid-term-rankings] in their midseason rankings, behind Matthew Schaefer, and above Porter Martone. The exceptional status centerman from the 2022 OHL Priority Selection won't have to wait long to hear his name called at the draft in June. Misa leads the OHL in points with 86 in 43 games, exactly averaging two points per game at this point of the season. Additionally, his six game-winning goals are tied for second-most and his four shorthanded goals are tied for first in the league. Saginaw's tough decisions to trade away Joey Willis, Ethan Hay, and Will Bishop [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/will-tough-decisions-now-benefit-saginaw-down-the-road] at the OHL's trade deadline haven't seemed to have impacted them too much. The team is 5-3-1 since Jan. 9. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTe2OVaq1ow[/embed] Defensively and goaltending have been a struggle — 39 goals against in the last nine games — but offensively they have been soaring — 47 goals for. One major reason Saginaw has been able to score as much as it has is the fantastic display of offense by Calgary Flames first-rounder Zayne Parekh [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/calgary-flames-top-prospect-has-record-breaking-night]. Parekh frankly can't be stopped right now. He's on an incredible eight-game point streak where he has put up 11 goals and 22 points. During this outlandish run, he has scored two hat tricks, has six multi-point games, and four games with three or more points. Bookmark The Hockey News OHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/] site to never miss news, interviews, and any updates around the league.
