Michael Misa, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, could either start the season with San Jose or return to Saginaw for a fourth OHL season. If Misa plays Oct. 9, the Sharks would have four players in the lineup who were selected within the first seven draft picks. Coach Ryan Warsofsky expects Misa to indicate his readiness and says the club has high expectations. Yaroslav Askarov projects as the starting goalie after mixed NHL numbers and an outstanding AHL playoff run. Askarov must adapt to the NHL grind and compete with Alex Nedeljkovic and prospect Joshua Ravensbergen.
If Misa plays opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center in San Jose on Oct. 9, the Sharks will have four players in the lineup selected within the first seven picks of the NHL Draft beginning with William Eklund (No. 7 in 2021). The organization must decide if Misa, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, starts in the NHL or the 18-year-old center returns for a fourth season with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League.
The 23-year-old is the projected starter entering training camp. Askarov went 4-6-2 with 3.10 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 13 NHL games (12 starts) last season before going 3-2 with an American Hockey League-best 1.68 GAA and .935 save percentage in the Calder Cup Playoffs. "It's a different schedule, the grind of it, which he'll have to adapt to," Warsofsky said.
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