The Forgotten Draft Option for the Islanders: Michael Misa

Since winning the NHL Draft Lottery exactly one month ago on May 5, the New York Islanders’ decision on who to take primarily centered on one player, Matthew Schaefer. The top-ranked defenseman is the consensus top-rated prospect in the draft, largely thanks to his sky-high potential despite playing a limited sample of games.

After him, the conversation on Long Island primarily centered around James Hagens, a local phenom and diehard Islanders fan. Hagens has sky-high potential and even had a strong enough season at Boston College. Still, scouts picked apart his inability to drive play as a freshman and dropped him from the consensus #1 to anywhere from #3 to #6 on draft boards.

Hagens possesses a ton of raw talent, but at 5’11” and struggling physically in the NCAA, it hurt his stock. Comparing his draft eligibility season to that of recent top NCAA prospects taken, his point totals do not come close. Hagens posted 11-26-37 in 37 games. Macklin Celebrini, last year’s top selection, posted 32-32-64 in 38 games. Adam Fantilli posted 30-35-65 in 36 NCAA games.

It’s a clear discrepancy, but it does not scare scouts away from him. Hagens will still be one of the first names off the board.

All this leads back to the Islanders and the debate of Hagens or Schaefer. Unfortunately for Long Island story romantics, it’s not much of a question. However, in that popular discourse, one prospect in particular seems to get lost in the mix.

Michael Misa.

Evaluation of Misa:

Misa is the top forward prospect in this draft. Granted the ultra-rare CHL Exceptional Status, Misa’s been a top prospect for this draft for some years. In his first couple of OHL seasons with the Saginaw Spirit, Misa put together two above-point-per-game seasons, but nothing that knocked evaluators’ socks off.

Then came this season. Misa, serving as team captain, scored a jaw-dropping 62 goals and 134 points in just 65 games. His stock elevated above anyone not named Schaefer, with most draft tiers putting him and Schaefer in the same basket, with everyone else in the next.

No other draft-eligible player in the CHL scored 100 points this year. Misa finished tied for the fourth-most points in a single season in the OHL in the 21st century. That tied him with none other than John Tavares, who registered 134 points during the 2006-07 season with the Oshawa Generals. That was Tavares’ first season of OHL hockey, as opposed to Misa’s third.

Misa’s reputation entering this year was low. Canada surprisingly snubbed him from their World Juniors team, while Schaefer made it.

Elite Prospects has released its official draft guide. In it, they ranked Misa as their #2 prospect and gave him multiple scouting awards. He’s been given the highest floor, along with the best offensive, transition, and two-way forward.

Would the Islanders Take Misa?

All of that breakdown leads into one big question: would the Islanders take Misa at first overall? It’s certainly possible. Since getting hired, Islanders’ General Manager Mathieu Darche has kept his cards very close to his vest.

The 2025 NHL Draft Combine is well underway. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Islanders had spent a heavy amount of time with Schaefer, playing right into the idea that he’s their man. They took him out to dinner at the first possible chance.

Then, National Hockey Now’s own Sheng Peng reported this morning that the Islanders had given the same treatment to Misa, a full night out with Islanders brass. Reportedly, that will take place tonight. Teams giving interviews are one thing, and it’s common.

Taking the prospect out speaks to how high the level of interest is. Taking Misa would give the Islanders a guaranteed second-line center next season. Misa’s widely expected to become a top-line center in short order, as well.

Put simply, there’s a much higher chance that the Islanders take Misa than people think. That’s not to say it’s likely, by any means. Schaefer is still the favorite, but if San Jose is dead set on acquiring the right to draft Schaefer, and the Islanders are comfortable with Misa, it increases the odds that a deal gets done.

More intel will continue to seep out of the combine. It’s a massive weekend upcoming for the Islanders as the combine wraps up.