Training Camp (9/19): Michael Misa

Training Camp (9/19): Michael Misa

Uh, it’s been great. Um, you know, fast-paced, really competitive. Um, you know, hard practices, but, um, yeah, like I said, it’s competitive out there and yeah, I feel good. Is that kind of what you expected, I guess, coming in? Definitely. Yeah. Um, you know, a lot of older guys, um, stronger, faster, just to that next level. So, um, you know, it’s been a bit of an adjustment, but, um, just trying to feel more comfortable each day. You still staying with Tole during camp or do they have you in a hotel? I know sometimes with younger guys they put them in a hotel. I’m at the hotel. Yeah. I was going to say, did you did you talk to Tyler at all maybe before the first day? Maybe look for advice or talk to anybody that, you know, was maybe been through one of these camps before for some advice. Um, not really to be honest. Kind of just, you know, went into it with a positive mindset. Um, you know, just trying to do my thing out there and, um, but, you know, throughout the days and stuff, there’s obviously so many guys you can talk to and, um, you know, that’s what’s good about this team. Everyone’s, um, you know, super nice, welcoming. So, it’s been good so far with the Sharks draft picks. Obviously, Mlin Glenn being number one center in franchise center. You being a center and Smith, Will Smith drafted as a center now. It looks like he’s going to play wing. When you when you hear about that or talk about that maybe with the coaching staff, is that something that’s like, okay, like I get to play my natural position and do everything I can to make the team at center. Does that do anything for your psyche when you’re out there trying to make the team move like you are this week? Yeah, I mean, like I feel like I’m playing my best when I’m down the middle. Um, you know, that’s what I’m most comfortable with. So, um, you know, going forward, I hope to stay there and, um, yeah. Uh, who are you rooming with in your hotel? Uh, Cam Lund. Oh, okay. Yeah. Uh, wanted to, uh, ask you in terms of just how you’re handling just the pace of play here. Obviously, this is an elevated pace from rookie face off. So, how are you handling that? Um, yeah. I mean, uh, definitely faster pace. I think it just it pushes you to, you know, keep up and, um, you know, I think for me just always, uh, trying to skate as fast as I can. Um, I think it’s important to, you know, build speed early and, um, you know, to help you keep up with some of those guys out there. That pass you made to Ekkan in the scrimmage just now, the the goal scoring one. Is that something that builds your confidence or is that more like, hey, I you already had that confidence like you feel like you you’ve handled the pace or you can handle the pace at right now? Yeah. Um, you know, like I said earlier, um, I think each day I’m feeling more comfortable. Um, you know, I think the confidence is always there. You know, I believe in myself, but, um, yeah, that’s all I can say. And on the defensive side, how do you think you’re doing for that? Because obviously, uh, at any level, center, right, uh, the defensive uh, uh, responsibility is so important. Yeah, it’s um, going to be an adjustment for sure like um, any any, you know, young player trying to make the NHL. um just bigger players down low trying to you know get them up against the wall and stuff like that. But um you know each day I think I’ve been doing a better job of it and um you know it’s something I still am going to continue to learn. So that’s why there’s a lot of older guys on the team for me to take advice from and learn from. So um yeah. Any of those older guys or coaching staff give you any pointers so far? Yeah, all of them. Morzo, um all the assistant coaches um older guys on the team it’s been great. um like there’s so many people around the rink you can just ask for uh advice and you know they’re going to give it to you. So, anything specific on the ice like that you know for you to work on you know in the next couple weeks here? Um I think everything I’m going to be honest uh for for me I want to get better at everything, push myself um you know coming with a purpose of stuff I want to get better at each day in terms of skating shooting uh defensive game like any anything. So um yeah. What are you looking for maybe like let’s say you get into the game Sunday? Is it just kind of you know similar to maybe not planning to like slowly get into it but just what what do you want to do like when you get in that game situation the preseason to like maybe not overwhelm yourself? What chip and chase? What’s what kind of gets you into a game if you will? Um yeah I mean to answer the first part just get involved some way. Um whether that’s lay ahead, get the puck on your stick, make a play. Um you know but ultimately um I want to win the game. And that that’s the the main objective of Sunday and um you know I’m going to try to do whatever I can to help help the team win. When you ski with a guy as familiar you are with with Chernishov, how much does that chemistry help just maybe try to build it together, right? You guys are trying to make the team together. Is that something that you guys can kind of rally behind and use as almost an extra another piece of motivation? Yeah. Um like you said that that chemistry it’s it’s nice to have with him. Um, you know, I think it’s been there over the last year and um, coming here, it’s it’s nice to have a teammate like that from Sageno and um, someone that I know well, can connect with, and um, you know, I’ve got the chance to play with him the the last, you know, week or so, and he’s on my line the last couple days, so it’s been nice. Yeah, I know during these training camps a lot of times there’s some team bonding exercises. I don’t know if you guys have had a time yet, but how have you started liking maybe a week pocket just the city of San Jose? You’ve been here a few times now. You’ve been in the area for a little while. What have you thought about just the area of San Jose? Yeah. Um, can’t complain. It’s been It’s been good. Uh, they got us at the Hilton, so um downtown there’s there’s a couple nice restaurants around there and then, you know, you drive 10 minutes, you got Santana Road just around the corner. Um, great weather obviously. Um, so yeah, it’s it’s been nothing but good. Is there a go-to spot for you? Go-to spot? Well, I’ve been going to I think it’s Eel Ferno. I think that’s Yeah, that that one. We’ve we’ve gone there like three times now. It’s just it’s right around the corner. nice Italian food. It’s It’s been good. Um Yeah. And Michael, you’ve been playing with um Shernoff and also Ekkan for the last two days. How is playing with Eki kind of made you adjust your game um in this training camp this year? I mean, I think it’s it’s pretty easy to play with someone like that. I don’t know who wouldn’t want to play with him. He’s he’s fast, creative, um you know, makes plays all over the ice. So, for me, it’s just been uh trying to keep up with him because how fast he is and um you know, he sees the ice. so well. So, yeah, it’s been fun to play with him. Warzo has some um I’ve seen some feedback for you center ice during camp. Um what has it been like, you know, working under head coach Ryan Rossi? It’s been great. Um you know, anytime he’s given you advice, you just you listen and do what he says. I mean, um there’s been times already out there at practice where he’s given me good advice and um you know, along with all the coaching staff. So, it’s nice to you know, get advice and stuff you can work on um coming to camp here. Has any last one here? Is it kind of um any part of this just been felt overwhelming at all or or has it felt like okay I I’m not out of place here? I I feel like I’m I can I belong here kind of thing? Is that how do you kind of feel about just that for you know is it has it been overwhelming? Is that kind of fair to say or not? I mean I I’m more just having fun. Like it’s been a fun you know couple weeks that I’ve been here already. Now we’re into main camp. It’s It’s nothing but, you know, just having fun, working hard. Um, yeah, that’s about it. I think that the season opener is about three weeks here. Do you do you allow yourself to think about what it would be like for you to be in the lineup opening night and sold out building and going against the Vegas Golden Knights first time? And do you kind allow yourself to think about that possibility at all or? Not really. I mean, it’s like you said, three weeks away. There’s a lot of time between then and now. um you know, I’m not on the team yet, so um it’s there’s still three weeks for me to try to improve myself and, you know, try and try and make the team. So, what have you learned about taking face offs at the Angel so far? Um the the man grip that’s just everyone’s so much stronger on their stick. So, um it’s it’s definitely more challenging than the OHL for sure, but um that’s why you got coaches, older guys to help you with that that those faceoffs.

Sharks Forward Michael Misa answers questions from the media at training camp on September 19, 2025