With the 55th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected forward Martin Misiak.
Martin Misiak Intel
6-2, 201
Shoots: Left
DOB: Sept. 30, 2004
Ranked #66 by Corey Pronman (The Athletic)
Ranked #87 by Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)
Ranked #85 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #115 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #130 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #73 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #113 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #81 by THE HOCKEY NEWS
Ranked #72 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #81 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #45 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #68 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #62 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #95 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #58 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Misiak is an NHL-caliber athlete. He’s 6-foot-2 and he skates well. His stride is powerful and efficient. He showed he could consistently push the pace versus men. The issue is how much does he offer outside his skating? I see some skill and offense but I don’t think his puck game and playmaking stand out. He’s just OK off the puck as well with some physicality but he’s not a great two-way forward. There’s a lot to work with, he should play games, but what he becomes as a pro is uncertain.
He’s also got a track record in line with his age though, too, having already played t🔯wice at the world juniors with Slovakia, and having registered 20 points in 75 games with HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia’s top professional league at 17 and 18 before making the move to the USHL midway through this season. After a bit of a slow start through February and early March, he came into his own for Youngstown and was a big reason they beat the Chicago Steel in 3-1 in their best-of-five series to advance to the Clark Cup final (he had points on seven of the 12 goals the Phantoms scored in four games against the Steel). Misiak’s an standout skater for his size, with smooth extensions, light crossover patterns, a quick first step, and a strong overall transition package that shows good hands and sees him make plays at speed. There are times when he can overhandle it, and there were times in the USHL when I would have liked to see him take over games with his natural abilities, but he’s got skill, skating, size and a competitive spirit to work with.
