15 year old Michael Misa joins McDavid, Tavares, Ekblad and others on path to NHL

Teenage phenom Michael Misa will join the likes of Joe Veleno, Sean Day, Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Shane Wright, and Connor Bedard as players granted exceptional status in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

Misa, an Oakville, Ontario native will be allowed to play in the OHL next season as a 15 and 16 year old. The Niagara IceDogs, Saginaw Spirit, Sudbury Wolves, Erie Otters, and Sarnia Sting all have a spot in the OHL Draft Lottery and will be crossing their fingers for the opportunity to acquire Misa at the upcoming OHL Bantam Draft.

Misa, who was born in 2007 if you can believe it (!!!) most recently potted 10 goals and 20 points in just seven games with the Mississauga Senators at the OHL Cup, tying Corey Perry for the all-time points record in a single tournament and breaking breaking McDavid's record at the same event.

The CHL enacted the Exceptional Player Status in 2005, enabling exceptional players early entry into the OHL, QMJHL and WHL. Most players who have achieved the rank have come through the OHL, with just Veleno earning the honor in the QMJHL and Bedard earning the honor in the WHL. Interestingly enough, this time last week Sportsnet insider Jeff Marek seemed to indicate that Misa will likely NOT be granted Exceptional Status, but it seems that some pressure from down south may have changed minds at OHL headquarter.

"There are teams in the USHL, the Chicago Steel for example, that have expressed interest in Misa should he be denied, but this is going to be a crucial week," Marek reported. "His camp thought they were getting an answer around OHL Cup time that hasn't happened. We'll see what happens the OHL teams need a response with their draft on April 29."

I'm not sure how to feel about all this...

On the one hand, Misa may in fact have the skills to play in the OHL as an under-aged played. But on the other hand, this comes across to me as the OHL scrambling to hold onto a player so he doesn't bolt for the USHL. That doesn't sit right with me. In any case, I'm excited to see how his career unfolds because there's obviously a ton of skill and potential there.

Misa though won't be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft until 2025.