Michael Misa gets good news as he jumps into Sharks’ playoff chase

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks will try to use the next three-plus months to secure their first playoff appearance in seven years, and Michael Misa — the team’s top forward prospect — will be part of the journey.

Misa, 18, said he was informed by general manager Mike Grier on Thursday that he would be remaining in the NHL as the Sharks begin the second half of the regular season in a playoff position. The Sharks also had the option of loaning Misa back to the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.

“Talking with (Grier), it means a lot,” Misa said after he practiced with the Sharks on Friday at SAP Center. “Obviously, I’ve got to work (hard) every day to try and make the most of it. So, good to continue to do that.”

Coach Ryan Warsosky said Misa could play in one or two games this weekend as the Sharks host the Dallas Stars on Saturday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday in a challenging back-to-back situation against two of the Western Conference’s best teams.

Misa was added back to the Sharks’ roster on Tuesday after he competed for Canada at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota. Misa played seven games in 11 days, collecting seven points, and helped Canada capture the Bronze Medal with a 6-3 win over Finland on Monday.

“Oh yeah, he’ll play,” Warsofsky said of Misa. “We have a pretty good plan in place. We wanted to get his feet underneath him here today, and get in a practice, and then we’ll figure out the weekend.”

Misa had dressed in seven of the Sharks’ first 13 games before he suffered an ankle injury during a morning skate on Nov. 5 in Seattle. He did not play again until Dec. 5, when he began a conditioning assignment with the Barracuda, playing two games in two days.

Misa joined Canada’s pre-tournament training camp on Dec. 16. Canada then won all four of its preliminary round games and beat Slovakia 7-1 in the quarterfinals on Jan. 2 before losing to Czechia 6-4 in the semis last Sunday.

Shortly after the loss, Misa took responsibility for Czechia’s game-winning goal late in the third period, as the player he was trying to tie up in the crease was able to redirect a puck into the Canadian net with his skate.

“I think the best way to deal with something unfortunate like that is to flush it and just move on,” Misa said. “You’ve got to trust the process. You play hockey because you love it, and you can’t let a moment like that define you. So, happy to be back here now.”

Misa’s return comes as Ty Dellandrea, who has been the Sharks’ third-line center for the majority of this season, deals with a lower-body injury that will sideline him for several more weeks. Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.

The Sharks had Adam Gaudette center the third line during their 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. Gaudette scored his ninth goal of the season early in the third period on a Sharks power play, added four hits, and won five of 11 faceoffs in 11:39 of ice time. Gaudette was also the Sharks’ third-line center during Friday’s practice.

Regardless of when Misa plays again, he does give Warsofsky another option at center.

“You look around the league, and there’s a real need for centers, with injuries and what have you,” Warsofsky said.

The Sharks have won five of their last six games and will enter Saturday in a Western Conference wild-card spot. San Jose, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019, also entered Friday just three points back of the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.

After this weekend, the Sharks begin a tough four-game road trip with games against Washington, Detroit, Florida, and Tampa Bay — all teams in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Misa’s development is continuing, but with the Sharks in a tightly packed playoff race, he’ll need to adjust quickly and make a positive impact with every point being so important.

“I think the most important thing for me now is just trying to play games,” Misa said. “I’ve got to start playing and getting back up to how I felt when I was playing. Just going to trust the process. What’s going on here, obviously, they’ve been doing something special, so now I’m trying to come back and help them continue their success.”