Michael Misa would solve 2 huge Islanders problems but creates another

Michael Misa would be an incredible pick at No. 1 overall, regardless of where he may ultimately want to go. We can sit here all day and argue why Long Island’s a better destination than San Jose, and why Misa would thrive if he started his NHL career wearing a blue and orange sweater. 

And for the Islanders, they’d be getting a franchise cornerstone, no doubt. Below, I have two reasons that talk about why Michael Misa’s the ideal fit for the Isles, but I also mentioned one drawback - because there’s no such thing as a perfect pick. 

Pro: An immediate playmaker

There’s no denying that Michael Misa’s the most gifted playmaker in this draft. You don’t get to first-overall consideration without putting up 134 points and 72 helpers. For as bland as the Isles were with the puck last season, Misa’s the logical choice here if I were Mathieu Darche. 

Misa’s also got the size to compete at the NHL level, and it’s hard to find a glaring weakness when the puck’s on his stick. He’s the kind of player seasoned veterans shouldn’t mind ceding ice time to once he’s proven himself, and that will come sooner than we all think. 

I could talk all day about what would make Misa the pick at No. 1 overall, but his productivity, size, and overall skill-set tell the entire story. That said, there would be a potential drawback if the Isles snagged him. 

Con: Blue line issues unsolved

Let’s face it: Noah Dobson is still a mystery. Yeah, he’s a good player who will return to the Isles at some point this summer. Ditto for fellow restricted free agent, Alexander Romanov. But are either game-changers? Right now, they’re solid blueliners, and Dobson could’ve hit his production ceiling in 2023-24. 

Now, let’s flip the script. While there are no guarantees Matthew Schaefer will be a game-changer in the NHL, you can argue he has more game-changing potential than either Dobson or Romanov. 

Snagging Misa means passing on Schaefer, and even if Misa’s a game-changer, it doesn’t answer the question of how to fix the blue line. Well, unless Dobson skates into the rink and is in vintage form. 

Pro: Prime addition to an under-the-radar core

You look at the Islanders, and you see quite a few 30-somethings, like Bo Horvat, Anders Lee, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle Palmieri, while forwards like Anthony Duclair are nearing it. That looks like one aging group of forwards, but it’s not the case when you dig deeper. 

Players like Calum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman are the ‘next men up’ and it won’t be long until they’re playing full-time on Long Island. The Isles also have Mathew Barzal, Simon Holmstrom, and Maxim Tsyplakov, all of whom are already full-timers. 

Assuming Misa’s a surefire full-timer the second he steps onto the ice, he’s adding immediate youth to the Isles should he land on Long Island. This should give every Isles fan out there a reason to cheer if they call Misa’s name on the 27th.

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