San Jose Sharks sign Luca Cagnoni to ELC

Cagnoni spent the 2023-24 season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he tallied 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points in 65 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He added 13 points in 13 WHL Playoff contests.

“Luca is an intelligent two-way defenseman with a strong playmaking skillset,” said Grier. “He had an impressive season individually for the Winterhawks, showcasing his ability to make plays on the offensive side of the puck while also being an effective player in his own zone. We are happy to have him a part of the organization.“

Cagnoni became the first WHL defenseman in 30 years to record 90-plus points in a season. The last to do it was Shane Peacock, who tallied 102 in 65 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes during the 1992-93 campaign. Peacock was drafted No. 60 overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft and although didn’t suit up for an NHL game had a great career overseas in Germany in the DEL.

Cagnoni is an elite skater with slick hands and great passing, he ranked 18th among WHL skaters this season with 90 points and first among WHL defensemen with a nine-point lead over Columbus Blue Jackets 2022 first-round pick Denton Mateychuk. Most recently, Anaheim Ducks rookie Olen Zellweger surpassed the 80-point mark last season along with Ben Zloty.

During his draft year, he racked up 17 goals and 47 assists for 64 points in 67 games, and he added seven points in nine WHL Playoff contests. Throughout Cagnoni’s WHL career so far, the 5-foot-9 defenseman has recorded 44 goals and 149 assists for 193 points in 205 games over four seasons.