Michael Misa, the second overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, made his AHL debut for the San Jose Barracuda on Friday night.
The 18-year-old forward assisted on Luca Canoni’s second-period goal to help his team beat the visiting Tucson Roadrunners 4-3 in overtime. Misa joined the Barracuda on loan from the San Jose Sharks last Wednesday.
He played seven games with the Sharks and had a record of 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses before missing the last month with a lower body injury.
“It feels good to be back out there,” Misa told the San Jose media. “I think just getting back into the rhythm I knew the first game was going to be a little tough.
“Overall, I thought I played well and had some chances, but I have to continue to push the pace. I think in the AHL, you only have a second, a split second, more time to make decisions with the puck, which helps, but it’s a great league here.”
Barracuda head coach John McCarthy also liked what he saw.
“He’s fine,” McCarthy told the media. “High-end speed. High-end playmaking ability. He’s a threat every time he’s on the ice.”
McCarthy placed Misa on the team’s top line between Cam Lund and Oliver Wahlstrom. Misa ended with two shots. Rookie Igor Chernyshov’s third-period goal sent the game into overtime, before Lucas Carlson’s power-play goal won the game. Chernyshov, a member of the Barracuda Young Sharks, ranks second among AHL rookies with 11 goals. Chernyshov and Misa played last season with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.
He had a stellar career in Saginaw before the Sharks selected him last June. As the 2022-23 OHL Rookie of the Year, he went on to help the team win the Memorial Cup championship in the 2023-24 season. He led the OHL in scoring last season with a 62-72-134 record in Saginaw and won the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.
Misa’s conditioning mission can last for 14 days. The Barracuda host Tucson again on Saturday night (FloHockey 9pm ET / 6pm PT), then welcome the San Diego Gulls to Tech CU Arena next Wednesday. From there, the Barracuda will play two road games next weekend in Texas.
2025 Tucson Roadrunners vs San Jose Barracudas
Friday’s win brought the Barracuda within three points of the Pacific Division lead. Since November 1, the team’s record is 11 wins, 1 draw, 1 draw and 1 loss.
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