SAN JOSE – It could be an exciting December for San Jose Sharks prospect centerman Michael Misa, although his plans for the month are still up in the air.
Misa is set to play in his first two American Hockey League games with the San Jose Barracuda on Friday and Saturday as he begins a conditioning loan from the Sharks after he sustained a right ankle injury in early November.
There’s also a chance Misa, 18, gets named to Hockey Canada’s training camp roster on Monday for the IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins Dec. 26 in Minnesota.
The Sharks, though, still have not finalized a decision on whether to loan Misa or defenseman Sam Dickinson, 19, to the Canadian team, which begins its training camp on Dec. 12. Before Friday, Dickinson had averaged 14:27 in ice time in 21 games for the Sharks this season.
Misa has three points in seven NHL games, showing flashes of what made the Sharks take him second overall at the NHL Draft in June.
Still, the Sharks, with some veteran depth at the position, have adjusted without him. Going into Friday’s road game against the Dallas Stars, the Sharks owned a 9-6-0 record since Misa’s injury on Nov. 5, as Ty Dellandrea has moved into the third-line center role full-time.
Suppose Misa is not loaned to Hockey Canada for their World Juniors training camp. In that case, Misa can stay on his AHL conditioning stint until Dec. 17. He could then play in two more NHL games before the first year of his entry-level contract is burned.
The Sharks also have he option of returning Misa to Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League.
Misa was left off Canada’s World Juniors roster last season and last represented his country at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“It’s a huge honor,” Misa said of playing for Canada. “Anytime you get to represent your country, trying to compete against other countries and bring home the gold medal, it’s what you dream of as a little kid. It’d be very cool.”
Team USA won the World Junior title each of the last two years, with Sharks forward Will Smith helping the Americans win gold in 2024. Canada finished in a disappointing sixth place in the 2024 and 2025 tournaments.
“I think everyone kind of knows (how big) the stage is at that tournament,” Misa, a native of Oakville, Ontario, said. “I think what’s happened with Canada the last couple of years is not like us. So if I do get the chance to help them out, it’ll be fun.”
For now, Misa is set to play significant minutes on a red-hot Barracuda team that has gone 8-1-0-1 in its last 10 games to move into second place in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
The Barracuda play the Tucson Roadrunners at Tech CU Arena on Friday and Saturday, and also hosts the San Diego Gulls on Wednesday.
Misa tried to use his time off the ice to his advantage by adding some strength to his upper body.
“All my workouts were a lot of upper body to start with,” Misa said. “It’s nice for me to get in the gym, try and get stronger with the time I had off, and it’s feeling good now.”
Misa practiced with the Barracuda on Wednesday and Thursday and took line rushes with wingers Oliver Wahlstrom and Cameron Lund. He was also on the Barracuda’s top power play unit with Igor Chernyshov, his former Saginaw teammate, and Quentin Musty and Luca Cagnoni.
“I haven’t played in probably just about a month now,” said Misa, who was injured during the Sharks’ morning skate at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle before playing the Kraken that night.
“I think it was smart for me to come down here for a little bit to get a couple games under my belt this weekend and feel good about playing again, feel good about my game, and kind of go from there.”
Barracuda coach John McCarthy said Misa has looked the part of a No. 2 overall draft choice.
“Really high-end playmaking ability,” McCarthy said. “Plays fast, plays with a pace. … Sees the ice really well and is able to make a lot of plays in tight areas. Can make plays through triangles.
“I want to see him play his game. We want him, when there’s an opportunity for him to make a play, we want him to make the play. We also have our identity as a group, and he’s going to fall into that as well.”
