The San Jose Sharks are still keeping Michael Misa in the area and not with the Canadian Junior team at their training camp.
Misa, who is now considered healthy by the Sharks, remains on LTIR despite his conditioning loan to the San Jose Barracuda being over.
An initial report stated that the Sharks’ No. 2 pick in 2025 was injured, causing him to miss the start of Hockey Canada’s training camp.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsfosky clarified that an injury wasn’t the case. He told reporters on Tuesday that Misa remains in the area and continues to work with coaches and the strengthening staff.
“No,” Warsofsky said about whether Misa is injured. “You have to ask Mike [Grier]where he is on the roster or whatnot. He skated this morning with some guys, and we’ll probably make a decision here soon.”
After looking through the NHL’s CBA, Misa was likely on a Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception conditioning loan.
Section 13.9 reads: “as set forth in Article 50 may, with his consent, during the term of such Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception (but in no event during the first fourteen (14) calendar days and six (6) NHL Games), be Loaned on a Conditioning Loan (the “Bona Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception Conditioning Loan”) for a period not to exceed up to the longer of six (6) days and three (3) games, solely for the purpose of determining whether the Player is fit to play.”
Based on the rule above, Misa could only be on a Conditioning Loan for up to six days and three games.
Misa was sent on a conditioning loan to the Barracuda on Dec. 3. He played in two games, one on Dec. 5 and another on Dec. 6, but didn’t play a third. It is unclear when hisconditioning loan was over, but based on the start date, it had to be before Dec. 10.
There is no rule requiring a player to be activated upon their return from a conditioning loan. The NHL Commissioner can use whatever means necessary to investigate why a player is placed or kept on injured reserve, at his discretion.
The San Jose Sharks have made their intentions clear; Misa will join Team Canada at some point. Confusion remains about why he wouldn’t attend training camp from the start.
According to Warsofsky, it is because they want to keep him in-house more and work with their organization.
“Because we wanted a few more days with him,” Warsofsky said. “He was nicked up. He’s missed some time. [This] gives us more time with our strength coaches, with our resources here, and then he’ll join Team Canada here shortly.”
Warsofsky confirmed that Misa didn’t sustain any injuries in the two AHL games he played.
“He was injured with us. We sent him down there for some conditioning, to continue to rehab it, and get better and strengthen the injury. That’s where we’re at,” Warsofsky said.
The 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship begins on Dec. 26.
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