Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni records first 90-point season by WHL defenseman in 30 years
San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni is capping off a remarkable season after notching 18 goals and 72 assists for 90 points in 65 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Cagnoni becomes 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.
Elite doesn't even begin to describe Luca Cagnoni 💫
The @SanJoseSharks prospect just posted the first 90-point season by a WHL defenseman in the last 30 years! pic.twitter.com/vhtLf4PTF5
The Burnaby, British Columbia product was selected No. 123 overall by the Sharks during the 2023 NHL Draft, Cagnoni is eligible to sign an entry-level contract but hasn’t done so yet.
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.
Portland ranks second in the Western Conference and ended the 2023-24 campaign with a 48-15-4-1 record and 101 points. The Winterhawks are slated to take on the Victoria Royals in the opening round of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.