Michael Misa is set to rejoin a San Jose Sharks team that has changed significantly since he last played.
When Misa exited the morning skate before facing the Seattle Kraken on November 5 due to a right ankle injury, the Sharks recorded a disappointing 4-6-3 record. Despite their recent efforts to bounce back from an early season slump of 0-4-2, discussions about playoff aspirations for a team that had struggled as one of the worst in the NHL previously seemed quite unrealistic.
Fast forward two months, and the landscape has dramatically shifted: San Jose now boasts a record that is four games above .500 and currently holds the coveted No. 1 wild card position in the Western Conference.
This shift means that the Sharks are firmly in contention for the playoffs. However, head coach Ryan Warsofsky faces the challenge of balancing Misa’s on-ice development with the team's immediate goals.
It's essential to keep in mind that if Misa finds himself sitting out certain games, it’s part of his growth process in the competitive environment of the NHL. While practice and training are beneficial for his development, they can never truly replicate the experience gained from playing in actual games in the most prestigious league in the world.
Having just participated in a demanding series of seven games over eleven days at the World Juniors, where he last played on January 5, Misa will be watching from the sidelines during the upcoming match against the Dallas Stars. The Sharks recently triumphed over the Los Angeles Kings on January 7, with Adam Gaudette proving to be a capable third-line center—Misa's natural position—scoring a goal in their thrilling 4-3 overtime victory.
Warsofsky pointed out that despite Misa being healthy, he has only participated in one practice session with the Sharks since returning from the World Junior Championships. Yet, it’s clear that the team understands the importance of getting their second overall pick from the 2025 Draft onto the ice regularly. "We know we need to get him to play, and he needs to play games and get him going here. So I don’t see him sitting out for too long," Warsofsky shared on Saturday morning.
Moreover, it reflects a strong vote of confidence from the Sharks organization that they opted to keep Misa in the NHL instead of sending him back to the OHL, indicating their belief that the 18-year-old center has much to contribute toward their playoff ambitions.
However, it's crucial to note that he won't be participating in every game just yet; he will need to earn his spot by competing against other skilled forwards in the NHL. It will be interesting to see if this promising young player is ready to meet that challenge head-on.
As for the current lineup, the Sharks hold a record of 22-18-3. Alex Nedeljkovic will be starting in goal, and the rest of the lineup mirrors the one that achieved the recent victory over the Kings:
Eklund-Celebrini-Chernyshov
Regenda-Wennberg-Toffoli
Skinner-Gaudette-Graf
Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves
On defense:
Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Iorio
Dickinson-Leddy
Nedeljkovic will be in net. Warsofsky mentioned that Klingberg could potentially return for tomorrow's match against the Vegas Golden Knights, while Mukhamadullin has been ruled out.
The Dallas Stars, with a strong record of 26-10-8, are looking to complete a season sweep of the Sharks in this Saturday afternoon matchup.
If you’re eager to catch the action, tune in as the puck drops at 1 PM PT at SAP Center. You can watch live on NBC Sports California or listen via the Sharks Audio Network.
