My Michael Misa point projections for 2026-27 have the San Jose Sharks center producing 21 goals, 39 assists and 60 points over the NHL’s 84-game schedule.
Misa’s rookie numbers do not immediately scream fantasy hockey breakout. He recorded nine goals, 12 assists and 21 points in 45 games while averaging only 12:49 of ice time. But that is exactly why I believe he could become one of the more interesting buy-low targets in 2026-27. His first NHL season was about survival, adjustment and earning responsibility. His second should be about opportunity.
The No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft finished his rookie year with four points in his final four games and worked his way onto San Jose’s top power play alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. NHL.com currently projects Misa for 53 points, but I am more aggressive because his ice time, power-play role and quality of linemates should all improve.
The immediate fantasy takeaway: Misa does not need an unrealistic scoring explosion to reach 60 points. He needs more minutes, stronger linemates and consistent special-teams usage. All three appear attainable.
Michael Misa Fantasy Hockey Projection for 2026-27
Misa scored at only 0.47 points per game last season, which would translate to roughly 39 points over 84 games. My forecast therefore requires a meaningful sophomore improvement, but there are several reasons to expect one.
He played only 45 games and averaged 12:49 per night. San Jose’s current projected lineup has Misa centering a second line with Igor Chernyshov and Mason Marchment, while other preseason combinations have included Ivar Stenberg and Kiefer Sherwood. That represents a substantial increase in opportunity compared with his rookie usage.
Why Michael Misa Could Make a Major Sophomore Jump
The biggest difference should be deployment.
Misa entered the NHL at 18 after dominating junior hockey with 62 goals and 134 points in 65 OHL games during his final season with Saginaw. Expecting that offense to immediately translate into the NHL would have been unrealistic. Now he has 45 NHL games of experience, a full offseason to adjust and a clearer path into San Jose’s top six.
My personal observation is that this is exactly the kind of young player fantasy managers should target before the breakout becomes obvious. Misa’s rookie total was modest enough that he will not carry the draft-day price of Celebrini or Will Smith, but his pedigree and opportunity suggest considerably more offense is coming.
At 19, even a jump from 0.47 points per game to around 0.71 would put him at my 60-point projection. That is significant growth, but it is hardly unprecedented for a highly drafted teenager entering his second NHL season.
The Sharks Power Play Could Change Misa’s Fantasy Ceiling
The most important training-camp storyline for Misa is not necessarily his even-strength line. It is the power play.
He produced only four power-play points as a rookie, but NHL.com’s fantasy staff noted that he finished the season on San Jose’s first unit alongside Celebrini and Smith. More recently, the Sharks have experimented with multiple combinations. One preseason configuration placed Misa on PP2 with Marchment, Toffoli, Orlov and Stenberg, while other groups have featured Misa alongside Stenberg and different supporting forwards.
I am projecting Misa for approximately 14 power-play points. That assumes he receives meaningful man-advantage minutes throughout the season without necessarily holding a permanent PP1 role.
If he forces his way back onto the top unit with Celebrini and Smith, my 60-point projection could prove conservative.
Michael Misa Fantasy Breakout Model
The ceiling scenario depends primarily on two things: Misa earning a permanent top-six role and receiving substantial time on PP1. If those happen, 65-to-70 points becomes realistic because San Jose suddenly has far more offensive talent around him.
Mason Marchment Gives Misa a Valuable New Linemate
Marchment could be particularly useful for Misa. The veteran scored 15 goals and 32 points in 39 games after joining Columbus last season before signing a five-year contract with San Jose. His physical style, ability around the net and willingness to retrieve pucks should complement a more creative center.
NHL.com currently projects Misa as a possible second-line center with Marchment, while San Jose also has Chernyshov, Collin Graf and Stenberg competing for offensive roles. That depth should give the Sharks options rather than forcing Misa to carry a line by himself.
This is where I believe his assist total could make the biggest jump. Misa had only 12 assists as a rookie. I have him at 39 this year because I expect far more puck touches in offensive situations and significantly better finishing around him.
NHL.com’s 53-Point Projection Makes Misa an Interesting Fantasy Gamble
NHL.com currently projects Misa for 53 points and ranks him 177th overall. Their analysis specifically calls him a breakout candidate and a strong buy-low option in keeper and dynasty leagues.
My 60-point forecast is seven points higher, but the gap is largely explained by my expectation that Misa wins a larger role sooner rather than later.
His finish to last season matters here. Four points in his final four games is obviously too small a sample to project directly, but it shows what became possible once San Jose increased his offensive responsibilities.
Michael Misa Salary-Cap Value Snapshot
Misa carries a listed 2026-27 cap hit of $986,250 on his entry-level contract. Dividing that figure by my 60-point projection produces a simple cap-cost figure of approximately $16,400 per projected point. Performance bonuses can alter the broader cap accounting, so this is an editorial efficiency comparison rather than formal NHL accounting.
Where Should Michael Misa Be Drafted in Fantasy Hockey?
I would treat Misa as a late-round upside selection in standard redraft leagues and a much more aggressive target in keeper and dynasty formats.
There is still obvious risk. San Jose has an unusually deep collection of young forwards, and Misa could spend portions of the year outside the first power-play unit. He also has only 45 NHL games of experience, so development will not necessarily happen in a straight line.
But the upside is exactly what I want late in a fantasy draft. A veteran projected for 45 points rarely transforms your team. A 19-year-old former No. 2 overall pick with an attainable path to the top six and PP1 absolutely can.
Misa himself said this summer, “I think we’re going to take another step this year.” The comment referred to San Jose as a team, but it also fits his individual fantasy outlook perfectly.
My reasonable range is 47-to-70 points, with most outcomes clustered between 55 and 63. The official NHLTradeRumor.com Michael Misa point projection for 2026-27 is 21 goals, 39 assists and 60 points.
If Misa secures PP1 minutes alongside Celebrini and Smith, there is enough talent here for that projection to start looking conservative very quickly.
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