Yesterday, the San Jose Sharks announced the official season-opening roster. Among the long list of young talent, one in particular stands out on defense: 21-year-old, left-handed Luca Cagnoni. Cagnoni is entering his third season within the Sharks organization, but has now officially cracked the roster.
Don’t let Cagnoni’s size fool you. Standing at 5-feet-nine inches, he doesn’t let his size stop him. While he occasionally is easily knocked off the puck, he uses his size and speed to his advantage. He’s quick to avoid hits and continue the play. Plus, he’s not going to let his size stop him from delivering a big hit when he has to.
Last season, he was a driving force behind the San Jose Barracuda. In 67 games played, he had 43 points (8G, 35A). His 43 points were fifth most on the team, and his 35 assists second most. In the final days of the regular season, he got the call to the NHL where he played three games. Although he didn’t record any points, he was incredibly fun to watch every time he hit the ice. Confident in everything he does, he used his bursts of immense speed to crash the net and create plays. At the close of the regular season, he returned to the Barracuda for their short-lived playoff run. In two playoff games, though, he recorded an assist.
In the preseason, his offensive capabilities were on full display. Although he only had one assist in two games, he was impressive leading the top power-play unit. His puck movement abilities thrive on the power-play, so it wouldn’t be surprising if we saw more of it during the regular season. Additionally, his ability to force play further into the offensive zone was incredibly valuable. Rather than just dumping the puck in from the blue line, he confidently carried it deep into the zone. This deliberate action repeatedly allowed the development of high-danger plays.
In addition to Cagnoni, 23-year-old, left-handed Nolan Allan was added to the Sharks’ defense. Acquired by the organization last year mid-season from the Chicago Blackhawks, Allan played 35 games with the Barracuda and scored 14 points (2G, 12A). During the preseason he was effective and comfortable on the penalty kill, something the Sharks were in repeated need of with the constant taking of penalties. It is likely he will act as the seventh defenseman, as sending him down to the AHL would require him to clear waivers. This in particular greatly explains why hard-hitting defenseman, Eric Pohlkamp, was sent down. He can fill Cagnoni’s spot as lead defenseman for the Barracuda until a spot opens up for him on the NHL squad, which could be soon.
As the Sharks continue to grow their impressive roster, defense has become a focus of improvement. The new combination of veteran leadership, like Jacob Trouba, and exciting young defensemen, like Luca Cagnoni, is an exciting step for the club. Cagnoni brings a new breath of life into the Sharks’ defense, and watching him continue to prove everyone wrong (like he has his whole life) is something fans can truly look forward to.
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