With the second-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks [http://thn.com/sanjose] selected Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit. He joins a robust group of high-end OHL players already present in San Jose's pipeline. Misa is one of just nine players to be given exceptional status and, as a result, join the OHL a year early. The Oakville, Ont. native joined the Saginaw Spirit for the 2022-23 season when he was just 15 years old. Despite his age, he scored 56 points in 45 games that year, finishing the year tied for first on the team in scoring. Those numbers are staggering for any OHL rookie, let alone a 15-year-old. Porter Martone spent time with Team Canada at the World Championship this Summer. The following season, Misa scored 29 goals and added 46 assists in 67 games, increasing his point total by nearly 20 points compared to his rookie campaign. That season, he helped Saginaw to win the first Memorial Cup in the franchise's history. This past season, Misa captained Saginaw and led the entire CHL in points scoring 62 goals in 65 games while tallying a whopping 72 assists for a staggering total of 134 points. As a result, he won the Red Tilson Trophy which is given to the OHL's most outstanding player award. Another underrated trophy that he won this past season is the Bobby Smith Trophy, which is awarded to the OHL scholastic player of the year. Islanders Select Schaefer With First-Overall Pick [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/31cd2deb-205b-4adc-b33e-58dffd429e40.webp] Islanders Select Schaefer With First-Overall Pick It was an emotional moment for Matthew Schaefer and his family when Gary Bettman announced Matthew Schaefer as the first-overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. Despite injury and personal hardship, the Erie Otters' defender proved he was the top prospect in this draft class. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/islanders-select-schaefer-with-first-overall-pick] What's clear is that San Jose drafted a player with elite offensive skill and very high ceiling. Misa is dynamic playmaker who is a constant offensive threat to set up his teammates or shoot the puck himself. He's also a very fast skater who leverages his speed to create offensive opportunities. In some ways, he's the perfect pick for a Sharks team that has a very deep talent pool. Their strong core of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Will Eklund is just the tip of the iceberg. Waiting in the wings are OHL stars that include Sam Dickinson, Quentin Musty, Igor Chernyshov and Kasper Halttunen. With a prospect pool like that, there is no reason to avoid swinging for the fences on an offensive dynamo like Misa. In the very near future, the Sharks could easily become one of the deadliest teams in the NHL. Given two to three seasons, they could ice a roster that features Celebrini and Misa as its top two centers while surrounding them with pieces to complement their natural skill. Alternatively, they could play the dynamic pair together, as Misa has spent time on the left wing. That kind of a roster will undoubtedly be the envy of most NHL fanbases, and Misa will undoubtedly have a large role to play in the team's future success. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
