The San Jose Sharks have assigned center Michael Misa to the Barracuda to begin a conditioning stint in the AHL.
Misa had been on injured reserve with a lower-body ailment and took part in Tuesday’s practice at Sharks Ice. He is now officially on long-term injured reserve, the Sharks said.
Misa, 18, was injured during the team’s morning skate on Nov. 5 before a road game against the Seattle Kraken.
Forward Jeff Skinner, still on IR, will not play on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The Sharks already have 23 players on their active roster and would likely need to assign someone to the Barracuda to clear a spot for Skinner when he’s available.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky could not say how long Misa will be with the Barracuda. Still, the loan could work as a natural bridge to Hockey Canada’s training camp for the IIHF World Junior Championship, which begins later this month in Minnesota.
The Barracuda hosts the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday and Saturday at Tech CU Arena. Hockey Canada will announce its World Juniors training camp roster on Dec. 8, and the team’s camp begins on Dec. 12 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
“Obviously, coming from (the AHL), I think it’s very beneficial to play there and have success there, and get your feet wet there and go through it,” said Warsofsky, who spent three seasons as a head coach in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup in 2021-2022 with the Chicago Wolves.