[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Mike's Brother Edition):

LHC Luke Misa is the brother of 2025 Draft wunderkind, Michael Misa, who was granted exceptional player status to enter the OHL in 2022-23, at the age of 15. Luke is no slouch either, being drafted 9th overall in the 2021 OHL Draft by Mississauga, and currently sitting 13th in league scoring, with 77 points in 59 games, which when prorated, equals 89 points in 68 games. It's a transition year for the Steelheads, with some of their star players being moved out at last year's trade deadline, and some overagers and Europeans leaving at season's end, so Misa has been counted on to be an offensive leader for the 9th-place team, and has responded admirably.

Misa, being all of 5'10",165lbs, is a dual threat, leaning towards playmaking. He can play in any situation, and logs significant ice-time in important moments. The first thing one might notice about him is his blazing speed with, or without the puck that he can use to separate from opponents in open-ice. He plays at a high pace, beating defenders with his lateral quickness, and his strong edgework. Misa is an offensive genius, with elite vision, and his creativity is hard to defend. He likes to play a quick possession game, with give-and-go's to keep opponents on their heels, and a cerebral passing game to put them on edge. He makes plays in full flight, generating chances aplenty off the rush, and exploits open space when attacking in the zone. He can dissect defenses with his distribution game, threading the needle through traffic, and can complete any type of pass imaginable- forehand or backhand, along the ice or over stick blades. Misa sees the ice better than most, and despite his size, puts himself in the thick of the action. He has an accurate shot that could use a bit more power, but it's his stunning release that catches goalies and D off guard, and he has good hands to beat netminders 1-on-1.

One of the main pillars of Misa's game is his ability to drive transition, either by passing, or by carrying. He's an exceptional transporter of the puck, darting through checkers in the neutral zone, and making clean entries where he distributes off the rush. He's superb at capitalizing on opponents' miscues, missed passes, and broken plays, and kickstarting the offense in the other direction. Off the puck, Misa's routes make him ready for receptions at high speed, and he positions himself the best way possible to create opportunities. He's a skilled handler, and despite his smaller frame, he protects the puck well, with good puck control. He has high motor, plays with pace, works hard, and even though he doesn't employ a lot of physicality, he forechecks relentlessly. Misa plays a smart defensive game, starting the backcheck in the neutral zone, cutting off the middle lanes and blocking passes. He picks pockets, strips pucks, and hounds puck-carriers- causing turnovers, and disrupting plays. He has also built up his ability to win faceoffs. Misa is a sparkplug, and will go to the greasy areas to win pucks, but he can be overpowered and lose battles. His size and lack of physicality might always be an issue against larger opponents, but he won't back down. Still, he needs to build his strength up for the next level, and further develop his shot. Misa looks to be a candidate for middle-six duty at the NHL level, and his superior speed, IQ, and vision are good enough to get him drafted in the second round.