Tank Talk: Michael Misa

Tank Talk: Michael Misa

Okay, here with Michael Misa on the big day. The entry level contract has been signed and almost like you’re giving an acceptance speech maybe here. Who do who do you want to thank as part of your big day? Um, I want to thank, you know, my agent, um, past coaches that have, you know, helped me along the way. Um, I want to thank the San Jose organization, you know, for believing in me and, um, helped me get my first NHL contract. And, um, you know, lastly, I just want to thank my family, um, mom, dad, brother. um they’ve done so much for me over the years and you know I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. So I just give a huge shout out to them as well. I think you got everybody there on the list. Nice job on that. And you’re not playing with your brother then this season, right? No, no, no. We kind of had a feeling it wouldn’t work out that way. But hey, congrats obviously and it it kind of is the entry here into literally the NHL. How do you feel about knowing that your path is a little bit more secure and laid out and and you’ve got an idea of at least where things are going to start for you this year? Yeah, it’s, you know, it’s a good feeling. Um, you know, having San Jose by my back. They believe in me. Um, great organization. So, um, you know, I’m excit excited to get started here at main camp and, you know, see how everything folds out. There there is obviously the consideration of the whole first nine games thing and I know Sam is in that picture too and there’s been a lot of San Jose players over the years, but it makes you probably want to get out of the gate to just a good start, establish yourself early on in this season. I think everybody does, but maybe you especially. What goes into a good start of camp and this year for you personally? Yeah, just coming to the rink every day with a purpose. Um I think it’s the biggest thing. Just wanting to get better, wanting to learn. Um you know, you’re going to see all the uh NHL players out there just you know, being out to practice with those guys, learn with them. Um you know, to help me uh start my season off strong and um you know, we’ll see how everything goes. I know Max been out with Sid and Nate McKinnon and you know, just rubbing shoulders with some uh some notable hockey figures. Did you spend any time with anybody this summer to just train or work out or uh get some skates in? Yeah. Um I was in Mskcoa for a couple weeks uh this this summer in August and um skate with Mskoka hockey there. It’s run by Sam Gier um and he has yeah uh like tons like there’s a bunch of pro guys out there that you know I was able to skate with and you know got to know kind of and learn from them. So, um, you know, I was happy I got those skates in before coming here, just getting a little bit more comfortable, familiar with, you know, what the next level is all about. Yeah. And what do you think the jump I mean, we don’t know yet. You haven’t made it yet, but as you as you look at this leap, what’s what’s the hardest part? It’s still hockey, but it’s at an unreal higher level. It’s the highest level. What goes into it for you about making this jump successful? Um, I think just dedication. It’s it’s not so much it’s obviously putting in the work, but putting in that extra, you know, what you do um when no one’s watching. Um how you treat yourself off the ice with food, nutrition, and um you know, just being an all-around uh you know, good player on and off the ice um is going to be huge for me trying to make that jump and um obviously getting in the gym, getting stronger cuz everyone’s at that next level is just a little bit stronger, too. So, um yeah, it’s going to going to be needed for me. Like I said, I think fans and everybody watching this is going to be very excited to see and understand, you know, how your season’s going to start when you were able to share the news, whether it was with family or teammates on the Sharks. What was their reaction? And I imagine it was you felt good seeing their reaction, too, right? Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, um I I found out I was going to be this morning. Um and then, you know, they announced they told me they were going to announce it this morning and um yeah, texts kind of started flooding in a little bit. I haven’t really looked at too much too many of them. I’ll do that another later probably. But um yeah, it’s a really good feeling just knowing you have a great support system behind you. So the rookie faceoff tournament going on this weekend down in Southern California and it’s very timely too because the Kings, Ducks, and Sharks have always had the regional rivalry, but they’re all also teams with a lot of talented young players right now. Is this a this a showcase of sorts or is this just a weekend to get the timing back for everybody? Um I think it’s a bit of both. you know, just getting back in that that game uh you know, mentality playing games against uh you know, all the best prospects coming up. And um the other thing is, you know, I think it’s a showcase for, you know, everyone on San Jose, just all all the prospects trying to, you know, show what they can do. Hopefully, we can come out with two wins and um yeah, it’ll be a good feeling, you know, and I’m trying to do the familiarity with you and everybody else on this rookie Sharks team. Couple OHL guys, so not many you’ve played with mostly mostly against, right now now you’re teammates. That’s not weird though, right? I mean, you’ve had this in your mind that you’re all coming together for a while. Yeah. Uh it’s a it’s a good feeling um to see, you know, the the group we’re bringing to this rookie showcase. It’s it’s loaded with talent and um you know, I’m excited to see what we’re what we’re going to do. You don’t have to be defended by Sam Dickinson anymore. You There you go. Exactly. She’s trying to get the puck up the ice to you pass. Yeah, exactly. Um Yeah, it’s good. Hey, so last thing, and I’m going to kind of geek out on this if you don’t mind. Um, you’re going to be the first shark to ever wear the number 77. And you didn’t even know that until just now, right? Yeah. You just told me before we started. So, I mean, there’s two parts about it. That’s that’s a crazy history. Nobody’s ever done it. You get to start something fresh. And first off, how did you get into 77? Uh, well, I was 66 growing up until the OL. And then I I just didn’t really, you know, feel it was right to wear Lemieux’s number in the OL. So, um, I I switched to 77. And uh the meaning behind it was just the the first seven is uh how old I am like an 0 07 born and um the second seven represents the seventh exceptional status player from Canada. Um just a you know cool meaning behind it and yeah great to be able to bring it to San Jose. Yeah. And the mm and 77 can work out. But I guess the last thing is you kind of get that all to yourself. is have you thought about or do you think that’ll be a cool thing that you’ll you’ll kind of take that pride and if you wear it for a long time it might be the the only one in a long time to ever wear that number. Yeah, it’s great. Um you know that no one’s ever worn it here before cuz you know there’s there’s always times where guys are fighting over numbers or you you never figured out uh you know what number you might get. You might have to change numbers going into this league. But um you know I’m thankful that no no one has that number. So well I think the jerseys will be selling sooner than later. Uh Michael, I appreciate this and congrats again on a huge day. Thanks Brady. appreciate our

Brodie Brazil talks with Michael Misa after signing his entry-level contract on September 10, 2025.