SAN JOSE – Michael Misa’s brief wait to make his NHL debut with the Sharks is coming to an end, but his bid to remain in San Jose for the rest of the regular season might be just beginning.

Misa will play in his first NHL game on Tuesday when the Sharks host the Carolina Hurricanes to close out their season-opening three-game homestand, coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed.

Misa, 18, made the Sharks roster out of training camp earlier this month but was a healthy scratch for the team’s first two games, as San Jose let late leads slip away before losing in overtime to both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks.

In Monday’s practice, Misa centered the Sharks’ third line with wingers Ty Dellandrea and Philipp Kurashev. Misa could also find himself on the first or second power play unit on Tuesday as the Sharks look to earn their first win of the season.

Regardless, less than four months after he was drafted second overall by the Sharks, Misa is getting his chance to fulfill a childhood dream.

“Really excited. It’s what I’ve dreamed of,” said a smiling Misa, who will have his parents and older brother flying in for the game. “I’m going to enjoy it and hopefully get the win.”

Watching the Sharks’ first two games, Misa paid close attention to centers Macklin Celebrini, Alexander Wennberg, and Ty Dellandrea and their habits, particularly when they didn’t have the puck on their sticks.

Still, Misa won the Canadian Hockey League’s scoring title last season, with 134 points in 65 games, for a reason, and he plans to play to his strengths against the tight-checking Hurricanes.

“Just play my game,” Misa said of his approach. “I’m going to bring my offense, try to help the guys score a couple of goals. I have confidence in myself that when I get out there, I’ll try to make the best of it.”

Misa’s debut will come three days after Sam Dickinson made his NHL debut on Saturday, as the 19-year-old defenseman had 12 minutes of ice time in the Sharks’ 7-6 overtime loss to the Ducks. Dickinson will also be in Tuesday’s lineup as it appears he’ll be paired with veteran John Klingberg.

“I was happy for him. He looked really comfortable out there,” Misa said of Dickinson. “He’s obviously going to have a long NHL career, and I was happy that we’re kind of getting (a chance) to go through this together.”

The Sharks will have to decide at some point, likely early next month, whether to play Misa and Dickinson for more than nine games and burn the first years of their entry-level contracts, or return them to their respective OHL teams.

Dickinson, assuming he plays Tuesday, can reach the nine-game threshold by Oct. 28 when the Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings, and Misa can reach nine games by Oct. 30 when San Jose’s homestand continues against the New Jersey Devils.

What seems more likely is for both to sit and watch games here and there, giving the Sharks a chance to be patient with their development for the time being.

“Go enjoy it. Have fun,” Warsofsky said of his message to Misa. “You only get one NHL (debut). (Misa) looked good in practice today, too. You can see a little extra jump in him. Embrace it. We’ll coach through the mistakes. Go play like your head’s on fire.”

SMITH INJURED?

With Misa, Dickinson, Celebrini, and Smith, the Sharks could have four players 20 years old or younger in Tuesday’s lineup. Warsofsky said Smith, who briefly left practice Monday, has been dealing with a minor lower-body injury in recent days, but added, “We don’t think it’s too concerning for him not playing (Tuesday). But you saw him get off there during practice, so I’ve got to get an update.”

LINEUP SHUFFLE

After two disappointing losses, the Sharks moved William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli alongside center Celebrini, and Smith and Jeff Skinner were put with center Wennberg, although, considering Smith’s minor ailment, Warsofsky said after practice that the lines have not been finalized.

The Sharks began the season with Celebrini, Smith, and Kurashev on the first line, and Wennberg, Toffoli, and Eklund on the second.

The Sharks also shuffled their defense pairs for Monday’s practice, with Dmitry Orlov paired with Mario Ferraro and Nick Leddy alongside Timothy Liljegren, with Vincent Desharnais and Shakir Mukhamadullin the apparent scratches for Tuesday’s game. Desharnais and Mukhamadullin were also scratched for Saturday’s game.

Veterans Leddy and Klingberg had some struggles Saturday, as they were on the ice for all three Ducks goals during 5-on-5 play.

In some possible message-sending Monday, Warsofsky said, “We’ve got eight defensemen that are NHL defensemen that arguably should be in the lineup with (Mukhamadullin) and (Desharnais), and we’re going to have to make some changes here if guys don’t start playing well.

“And it doesn’t really matter to me if you’re a first-year guy or you’ve been in the league for 15 years. I really don’t care. We need to put the best team on the ice that gives us the best chance to win. There’s competition. We need guys to step up. I think collectively, we’ve been all right, but there are individuals who need to be better.”

WAIVER WIRE

Defensemen Lucas Carlsson and Jack Thompson, who both began the season on the Sharks’ injured non-roster list with lower-body ailments, cleared waivers on Monday and were assigned to the Barracuda of the AHL. Thompson, a right-shot defenseman, was injured late in the preseason, and Carlsson was unable to play in any of the six Sharks exhibition games.

Originally Published: October 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM PDT