The Calgary Flames found fantastic value in their selection of Luke Misa
2 days ago
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It very rare that a group of fans is as happy with their favourite team’s draft picks as Calgary Flames fans were with the selections that general manager Craig Conroy and his staff made on day one and day two of the 2024 NHL Draft. But, the Flames came one with arguably one of the best classes.
Their first pick, Zayne Parekh, at number nine overall, was regarded by many as a big steal. His offensive output speaks for itself, and he immediately takes a spot toward the top of the Flames prospect pool. But, while the players they selected at the top of the draft were strong, it was the players they selected in the other rounds that were just as strong.
The player I want to focus on who really caught my eye (and plenty of other people’s too) for the Flames is Luke Misa.
The older brother of 2025 top prospect Michael Misa, Luke is a left-handed centre prospect who caught the eye of plenty of scouts over the course of the draft process. He stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 174 pounds, but the tangible skills he possesses are exciting for any prospect pool.
This is what the Elite Prospects Draft Guide had to say about Misa’s game:
“Speed is the name of Misa’s game, and he is dynamite in transition, impacting the puck on every shift. He turns defensive zone recoveries into controlled offensive zone entries, attacking opposing defences with breakneck speed and dynamic crossovers. Whether his passes are one-touches within short range, give-and-goes, or cross ice darts through traffic, Misa consistently utilizes his speed and playmaking vision to generate high-danger offence”
So, speed is the name of the game, and in today’s NHL, drafting players who can make your pool more dynamic with their legs is a huge boost.
But Misa isn’t just fast. He uses that speed to produce on the stat sheet. Over the course of 66 games in the OHL last season with the Mississauga Steelheads, he scored 26 goals and 81 points, 10 more than the next closest player on the team. He was also 10th in the OHL in assists with 55. Flames defence prospect Hunter Brzustewicz was first with 79 and Parekh was fifth in the league with 63.
That production put Misa as a candidate in the eyes of those who focus on the draft in the media as a potential late first-round or second-round pick. For some he was a little later in the draft like the third round, but no one had him below 72nd, which was Bob McKenzie’s ranking.
Misa ended up being selected 150th overall, slightly over double the worst position he was projected.
There were plenty of picks the Flames made that the general public and those in the know about this draft class specifically were impressed with, but Misa might be the most praised of them all.
Conroy and his staff did an excellent job over the course of the seven rounds, and it won’t be uncommon to read or hear that observation wherever you may get your Flames news. But it’s true, and adding Misa to the prospect pool where they did in the draft is a major win.
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