SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks – for good purpose – have been linked to Saginaw Spirit ahead Michael Misa nearly from the day they came upon they’d have the No. 2 general choice on this 12 months’s NHL Draft.
The dynamic Misa, who led the Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 134 factors in 65 regular-season video games, was ranked second amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Long run, Misa tasks to be a top-six ahead, and probably a No. 2 middle, the place he may slot proper behind Macklin Celebrini for years to come back.
However whereas Misa seems to be the participant almost certainly to be taken by the Sharks when the draft begins subsequent Friday on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, normal supervisor Mike Grier and his workers nonetheless have choices. And there’s purpose to really feel Moncton Wildcats middle Caleb Desnoyers is perhaps the most effective match in the event that they go on Misa.
Desnoyers performed by wrist accidents for many of the season however nonetheless had 84 factors in 56 regular-season video games. He additionally had 30 factors in 19 playoff video games, serving to Moncton seize the QMJHL championship and advance to the Memorial Cup. A real centerman, Desnoyers was additionally the QMJHL’s playoff MVP.
“I don’t know if it’s an open and closed book with Michael Misa,” to the Sharks, Sportsnet draft analyst Sam Cosentino instructed Bay Space Information Group. “Caleb Desnoyers is a guy who has a lot of the same characteristics, I believe, as what Macklin Celebrini possesses.”
The 6-foot-2, 182-pound Desnoyers, who turned 18 in April, is a terrific passer with distinctive hockey sense. His skating wants work, however he brings some physicality, and Cosentino believes Desnoyers will ultimately get to over 200 kilos.
Not like Celebrini, who stepped proper into the NHL just a few months after the Sharks chosen him first general ultimately 12 months’s draft in Las Vegas, Desnoyers would possibly want one other 12 months earlier than he makes the soar to professional hockey.
Desnoyers is projected to go anyplace from third general to seventh, so it might be a little bit of a shock to see normal supervisor Mike Grier and the Sharks choose him forward of Misa. Nonetheless, long run, the left-shot middle could possibly be one thing particular, and maybe, in time, emulate one other iconic Sharks duo.
‘This is a corporation the place (Grier) performed with guys like (Joe) Thornton and (Patrick) Marleau,” Cosentino stated. “I’m not so positive that in the event that they go down the highway of Caleb Desnoyers, they’re not getting Thornton and Marleau for the following nevertheless a few years.”
So, the place would possibly Desnoyers have an edge over Misa?
Whereas Misa is a terrific offensive expertise, and his eye-popping statistics communicate for themselves, Desnoyers’ 200-foot sport is a step forward. Whereas he has a tantalizing offensive skillset, he additionally appears to take simply as a lot delight in his work within the defensive zone, and that’s the place the comparisons to Celebrini start.
“So, do you give up some of what offensive upside might be (in Misa) to get an all-around guy who looks Celebrini-ish in terms of his compete and in terms of his all-around game? What does that look like for San Jose?” Cosentino requested. “Or do you just go get the dynamic center that can play wing and can play center, based on his last three years in Saginaw?”
It is perhaps onerous to go on Misa, extensively considered the second-best participant within the draft behind Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who is anticipated to be chosen first general by the New York Islanders.
Misa and defenseman Sam Dickinson, whom the Sharks selected eleventh general in final 12 months’s draft, had been each named to the all-Canadian Hockey League’s first staff on Friday. Misa additionally labored nicely with winger Igor Chernyshov when the guy Sharks prospect joined him in Saginaw in January.
Todd Marchant, the Sharks’ director of participant improvement, took discover.
“It was just amazing how the two of them just looked for each other whenever they were on the ice. It really was impressive,” Marchant instructed this newspaper final month. “Michael would search for Igor, Igor would search for Michael, and positive sufficient, once they did that, they’d both have an awesome scoring probability or rating a purpose.
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“So (Misa’s) a talented player, and any team that selects him would be happy to have him.”
That is the third straight 12 months the Sharks have had one of many high 4 picks, and as Grier has indicated, they hope to not be draft lottery favorites once more subsequent spring. With that in thoughts, if that is the final time the Sharks draft this excessive, they should get it proper.
Desnoyers’ all-around sport versus Misa’s plain offensive ability is perhaps giving the Sharks’ mind belief one thing to consider. If the Sharks aren’t offered on Misa, they may commerce down and nonetheless get the participant they need.
“I think that’s the balance that (the Sharks are) going to be looking at,” Cosentino stated, “and I don’t think it’s an open and closed book that (Misa) is going number two.”
NHL Draft
WHEN: Spherical 1, June 27, 4 p.m. (PDT); Rounds 2-7, June 28, 9 a.m. (PDT)
HOW TO WATCH: Spherical 1, ESPN, ESPN+; Rounds 2-7, NHLN, ESPN+
WHERE THE SHARKS DRAFT: First spherical (2nd, thirtieth general); Second spherical (two picks); Third spherical (one decide); Fourth spherical (two picks); Fifth spherical (one decide); Seventh spherical (one decide).
