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<\/p>\nNameMarco MignosaPositionForwardAge (as of October 1, 2026)21Height\/Weight6\u20190\u2033, 172 lbs.Expected 2026-27 TeamPenn State UniversityDraft \u2013 Year, Round2025 Round 7 (215)Previous RankingsNot RankedJustinG. Ranking13Final Rank17<\/p>\n
Stats:<\/p>\n
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Our Thoughts:<\/p>\n
It seems Marco Mignosa has already made a career out of proving folks wrong. After a strong showing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, there were expectations that he might go in the top 10 of the CHL draft. Instead, he went 36th. A sub-par second season with the Soo Greyhounds probably kept him from getting drafted in his first year of eligibility. So, he doubled his goal output. Still didn\u2019t get drafted. <\/p>\n
An 85-point season caught the Lightning\u2019s eye and they drafted him in the seventh round of 2025. As an over-ager, all Mignosa did was drop 89 points on the OHL in his final season with the Greyhounds. Now, he\u2019s taking his talents to Penn State University as a key piece to a Nittany Lion offense that will be without Gavin McKenna. He might have been one of the final players drafted in 2025, but don\u2019t think he\u2019s going to let that stop him from making it to the NHL.<\/p>\n
Why would a player who was praised for his hockey smarts and playmaking skills commit to the NCAA after putting up 289 points (116 goals, 173 assists) in 303 OHL games? Because there seem to be some things he needs to work on before hitting the pros. It\u2019s not shooting the puck or stick-handling. Rather it\u2019s working on his defensive game (already fairly good), getting stronger, and getting faster. With the structured nature of college hockey that allows for a lot of off-ice workout time, a year or two in Happy Valley could work wonders for his game.<\/p>\n
Watching his highlights, his ability to find his teammates with the puck stands out. A right-handed shot, he works play from the circle like a mirror-version of Nikita Kucherov. He has the ability to pick defenses apart without relying on quickness or speed. He\u2019ll only become more dangerous if he can level up that aspect of his game.<\/p>\n
Helping out his playmaking is a shot that is accurate and gets on net quickly. Mignosa has a solid one-timer, and can snap off his wrist shot from just about anywhere on the ice. They should play really well at the NCAA level, and would probably have been okay at the AHL level had he gone that route. <\/p>\n
The 21-year-old should get plenty of ice time with Penn State in the upcoming season. Expect him to be in the top six, on the power play, and killing penalties. The point production over the last couple of years has been impressive, but he\u2019s more than earned his keep defensively. The Toronto native doesn\u2019t shy away from physical contact, and adding some more strength should help him win more board battles.<\/p>\n
It wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if he goes one-and-done with Penn State before signing his entry-level contract. He had a little taste of life with the Crunch last season as he joined them on a try-out contract after his junior career ended. Once he joins Syracuse, his rise through the organization could be quick, especially with the Lightning lacking in impact offensive talent. His ceiling is a middle-six forward with 20-25 goal potential. <\/p>\n
Your Thoughts:<\/p>\n
\u201cMignosa had a good year in OHL see if he can build on that in the NCAA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Mignosa shows a lot of potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
His highest ranking was 8th with 9.3% of the votes placing him 17th. <\/p>\n
Highlight Videos:<\/p>\n
Mignosa did some solid work behind the boards before the puck comes back to him (after a turnover by fellow Lightning prospect, Sam O\u2019Reilly). The pass to set up Travis Hayes for the goal is such a nice little, deft touch pass. <\/p>\n
Look. If the seas are going to part, you have to shoot your shot. With all the time in the world, Mignosa didn\u2019t rush his shot and picked a corner on the goaltender. <\/p>\n
This shift showed what Mignosa brings to the ice every night. He got out high to block the initial shot and created the turnover. Then he got down ice to set up the play in the offensive zone. A quick fake on the forehand, and then a perfect backhand pass to spring Brady Martin. Those subtle little plays work well at pretty much every level, he just has to keep believing he can pull them off against top competition. <\/p>\n
This play is so much fun to watch. Set up in the left circle he made not one, but two one-touch passes. As the puck is worked back around to him, the defender goes down early in anticipation of another pass into the slot. Instead, Mignosa kept it, walked in and roofed it from in close. It is not fair in any way to compare anyone in hockey, let alone a 21-year-old who has yet to play at the professional level, to Nikita Kucherov, but there is some similarity in how they process the game and use previous actions to set up future plays. <\/p>\n
Toe drags are so much fun to watch. Unless you\u2019re Conor Walton in this highlight. The Windsor Spitfire defenseman got himself caught in between as he thought the shot was coming right off of the pass. Then he almost blew out a knee trying to recover. <\/p>\n
Top 20 <\/p>\n
20 \u2013 Aiden Foster<\/a><\/p>\n