San Jose Sharks select Luca Cagnoni No. 123 overall in 2023 NHL Draft

The San Jose Sharks have selected offensive blueliner Luca Cagnoni No. 123 overall. Cagnoni last played for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

Cagnoni is another modern-day mobile offensive-driven defenseman who thrives as a quarterback on the powerplay. Cagnoni notched 17 goals and 47 assists for 64 points in 67 games during the 2022-23 season. He led all Winterhawks defenders in the goals and assists margin; he ranked 10th among WHL defensemen. Cagnoni added an additional seven points in nine WHL playoff games. He was named to the WHL US Second All-Star Team. He’s elevated his production from three points in 10 games during his rookie campaign to 36 points in 63 games in 2021-22.

The Burnaby, British Columbia product has a high level of offensive awareness. With or without the puck, he’s always looking to pinch in the offensive zone to contribute. He is eager to find teammates in open lanes, his favourite being the tape-to-tape one-timer. His skating is sound, but his edgework and crossover ability are what will help him take his game to another level and be able to walk the blueline while quarterbacking a powerplay.

Daily Faceoff Senior Prospect Analyst Steven Ellis weighed in on the shifty mobile defender, saying, “Cagnoni is another quick-moving, modern-day two-way blueliner. He’s definitely not a physical defenseman, but he has a wicked release and can dominate the power play.”

Cagnoni will join a prospect pipeline that features the likes of William Eklund, Will Smith, and Quentin Musty . He will return to the Winterhawks for a third full season in the WHL.