Luca Cagnoni

Junior Hockey Career

Luca Cagnoni's major junior career began unconventionally with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in November 2020. He earned a spot on the team after a 30-minute practice tryout while the Winterhawks were on a road trip in Langley, British Columbia, and the team's coaching staff was sufficiently impressed by his performance in the drills to offer him a contract. His initial season in the 2020-21 campaign was limited to just ten games due to the WHL schedule being shortened to 24 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Cagnoni developed into a premier offensive defenceman over four full seasons with the Winterhawks. His offensive production peaked during his fourth and final junior season in 2023-24, when he recorded 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points in 65 games.

This point total made him the first WHL defenceman in 30 years to reach the 90-point plateau, a feat last accomplished by Shane Peacock during the 1992-93 season. In his final WHL season, Cagnoni notched 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points. He played a total of four seasons for the Portland Winterhawks. The 2023-24 season was his fourth and final season in Portland.

Professional Draft and Entry-Level Contract

The San Jose Sharks selected Luca Cagnoni in the fourth round, 123rd overall, of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He is a 5-foot-9 defenceman. The Sharks signed Cagnoni to a three-year, entry-level contract on May 22, 2024. This contract marked the beginning of his professional career with the San Jose organization.

Early Professional Seasons and AHL Success

Cagnoni began his professional career during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the AHL and NHL, and he made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks on March 20, 2025, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Just two days later, on March 22, he recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by William Eklund in a home game against the Boston Bruins, but the majority of his rookie professional season was spent with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL. He immediately established himself as a top offensive threat among rookie defencemen, leading all first-year AHL blueliners in scoring during the 2024-25 season and becoming the highest-scoring rookie defenceman in the league in seven years. His performance was recognized with a selection to the AHL All-Rookie Team, a significant honour for a first-year professional, and he started the following 2025-26 season again with the Barracuda, where he continued to produce offensively.

During that AHL campaign, Cagnoni tallied 43 points. This point total ranked him fifth on the team overall and first in points by a defenceman. On April 12, 2026, he was recalled from the AHL. He then played the final three games of the season in the NHL with the Sharks.

• Made NHL debut on March 20, 2025, vs. Carolina Hurricanes.
• Recorded first NHL point (an assist) on March 22, 2025.
• Named to AHL All-Rookie Team for the 2024-25 season.
• Led San Jose Barracuda defencemen with 43 points in 2025-26.
• Recalled to NHL for final three games of the 2025-26 season.

NHL Breakthrough and Historic First Goal

The 2026-27 NHL season marked a significant turning point in Luca Cagnoni's career, as after a strong training camp, which included media availability on September 29, 2026, he earned a spot on the San Jose Sharks' opening night roster for the first time. This achievement signified his full-time arrival in the NHL, and the season opener on October 1, 2026, at home against the Florida Panthers, became a historic night for the young defenceman. He scored his first career NHL goal in dramatic fashion, netting the overtime winner to secure a 4-3 victory for the Sharks, and in doing so, he became the first player in the history of the San Jose Sharks franchise to score his first NHL goal in overtime. The goal, combined with a power-play assist he recorded earlier in the game, announced his arrival as a potential clutch performer, and the moment was celebrated as a milestone for a player whose draft pedigree did not predict such an immediate memorable moment.

Playing Style and Career Trajectory

Luca Cagnoni is an offensive-minded defenceman whose game is built on puck-moving intelligence, vision, and activation into the play, and standing 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, he compensates for a lack of prototypical size with high hockey IQ and skating ability. His junior and AHL statistics demonstrate a consistent capacity for generating offence, from his 90-point WHL season to his point-leading roles with the San Jose Barracuda, and his career path from a fourth-round draft pick to an NHL regular demonstrates player development and seizing opportunities when they arise. His historic overtime goal to begin the 2026-27 season served as a powerful statement that he belonged in the NHL, shifting the narrative around him from being defined by his draft position to being recognized for his on-ice performance and clutch ability. As a 21-year-old at the start of the 2026-27 campaign, Cagnoni represents a promising part of the Sharks' future defensive corps, contributing offence from the blue line alongside the organization's young forward stars like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

Career Statistics

His AHL statistics show consistent offensive production. He was the highest-scoring rookie defenceman in seven years during the 2024-25 season. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. He earned his first NHL point on March 22, 2025, assisting on a goal by William Eklund. He scored his first NHL goal, an overtime winner, on October 1, 2026.

Questions about Luca Cagnoni

When and where was Luca Cagnoni born?

Luca Cagnoni was born on December 21, 2004. He is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. As of the 2026-27 NHL season, he is 21 years old. His birthplace is Burnaby, BC.

How did Luca Cagnoni get discovered by the Portland Winterhawks?

Cagnoni joined the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL in November 2020. This happened after a 30-minute practice tryout. The tryout occurred while the team was on a road trip in Langley, British Columbia. After the drills, the team thought highly enough of him to sign him.

What NHL team drafted Luca Cagnoni and when?

The San Jose Sharks drafted Luca Cagnoni. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL entry draft. He was the 123rd overall pick in that draft. The Sharks signed him to an entry-level contract on May 22, 2024.

What is Luca Cagnoni's most notable NHL achievement?

Cagnoni's most notable NHL achievement is scoring his first NHL goal. This goal was an overtime winner. It happened on October 1, 2026, in the season opener against the Florida Panthers. He became the first player in Sharks history to score his first NHL goal in overtime.

What success did Luca Cagnoni have in the American Hockey League?

In the AHL, Cagnoni was the highest-scoring rookie defenceman in seven years during the 2024-25 season. He was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. In the 2025-26 season, he finished with 43 points. He ranked first in points by a Barracuda defenceman that season.

What WHL record did Luca Cagnoni set?

In the WHL, Cagnoni recorded 90 points in the 2023-24 season. This made him the first WHL defenceman in 30 years to score 90 points. This feat was last achieved in the 1992-93 season by Shane Peacock. He had 18 goals and 72 assists that season.

Sources and further reading

• Luca Cagnoni (Wikipedia)
• Media Availability: Cagnoni (9/29) | San Jose Sharks (nhl.com)
• Sharks' Luca Cagnoni Makes Hockey History (sports.yahoo.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.