Winterhawks defenceman Cagnoni inks entry-level contract with San Jose Sharks

Portland, Ore.- Portland Winterhawks defenceman Luca Cagnoni has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks, the NHL club announced Wednesday.

“Luca is an intelligent two-way defenseman with a strong playmaking skillset,” Sharks General Manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “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.”

Cagoni led all WHL defencemen with 90 points (18 goals, 72 assists) and a towering +47 rating through 65 regular-season games in 2023-24.

The Burnaby, B.C. product had 28 multi-point outings, highlighted by a career-best five-point (one goal, four assists) night against Kamloops on November 8, 2023.

Cagnoni has become the first WHL defender to reach the 90-point plateau since 1993-94.

His 33 powerplay assists also topped all blueliners.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a career-best campaign in all major statistical categories, reaching 44 goals and 149 assists for 193 points in 205 career games and earning U.S. Division First-Team All-Star honours.

Cagononi registered another three goals and ten assists for 13 points in 13 games in Portland’s recent trip to the WHL Championship Series.

San Jose selected the 5-foot-9, 180-pound blueliner 123rd overall in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.