We will finalize some options for the Utah Mammoth to choose from tonight with the 4th overall pick. The great part is Utah is going to come out of tonight with a great, young prospect, and JJ Peterka from the trade this week. If Bill Armstrong is looking for centers with some size and, more importantly, skill, Michael Misa and Caleb Desnoyers would be perfect fits.
Anton Frondell provides size and good hands, but Misa and Desnoyers are two players who have size but play with the skill of a smaller, faster player. Desnoyers has climbed up the rankings of late, and Misa has held strong at the second option behind defender Matthew Shaefer.
Michael Misa
Misa had an unbelievable year for the Saginaw Spirit with 62 goals. Although I type quickly, that was not a typo; he indeed had 62 goals and 72 helpers to go with it. Obviously, this shows the indication that Misa is not a one-trick pony. A scorer indeed, but Misa can dish the puck to teammates as well.
Misa switched back to his natural position this year in the center. This allowed him to distribute the puck more despite scoring 62 goals. He played in every situation and has proven that he can not only help offensively but also play the 200-foot game.
Despite being ranked second for most of the year, rumors have Misa potentially available at 3 or 4 tonight. If that is the case, it would be a huge steal for Bill Armstrong and his staff. Misa may need another year before debuting in the NHL, but he has an array of skills that are sure to translate in the NHL.
Caleb Desnoyers
Having produced 35 goals and 49 assists this past season, Desnoyers has shown that he can produce all over the ice. His projection is what has shot him up the rankings to even ground with Misa. He is 6'2 but has much growing to do, so translating his skill to a bigger body will be interesting.
Like Misa, Desnoyers will translate into a two-way center in the NHL. Playing on both special teams will make this player even more valuable to his new organization.
I do feel that Desnoyers will be there at 4 for the Mammoth, but their publicized love for Brady Martin will be tested. Do they go for a little grit or the projected power center? We will know shortly!