Cagnoni Says Making Opening Night Roster “Special Moment”, How Will He Help Sharks’ Power Play?

Luca Cagnoni has made the San Jose Sharks‘ opening night roster.

The 21-year-old said that general manager Mike Grier told him during the team’s final preseason trip to face the Vegas Golden Knights.

“I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe it’s happening,'” Cagnoni recalled.

He shared the experience over the phone by calling his family and agent William Kawam.

“[My parents] were thrilled,” Cagnoni shared. “They’ve obviously done so much for me over my career. So, just being able to tell them that I made it was a really special moment.”

Cagnoni has spent most of the last two seasons with the San Jose Barracuda. Last season, he put up eight goals and 43 points in 67 games. The Barracuda power play has been top-two in the AHL over the last two seasons, with Cagnoni as the quarterback.

“He’s got a motor to play at the National Hockey League-level,” San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “You can tell he put in a lot of work this summer. He’s in really good shape. He’s got a good motor. When he’s got the puck, he’s got good poise with it.”

“He’ll help us a lot,” Celebrini said. “Skating with him in the summer, I know he’s put in a lot of work to be ready.”

The 5-foot-9 blueliner is expected to be top unit power play quarterback. He’ll be in charge of getting the puck to Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Igor Chernyshov, and Alex Wennberg.

“A lot of high-end talent out there,” Cagnoni said. “[It’s about] putting the pieces together at this point. It seems to be coming along pretty good.”

Cagnoni knows he has to assert himself on a power play, and not defer too much to superstar Celebrini.

“Shooting is going to have to be a part of that,” he said. “Establishing shots from everywhere.”

The San Jose Sharks were 16th in power play efficiency last season. Hopefully, adding a different power play quarterback can further elevate the promising unit:

“That’s a talent of his, to put pucks to the net, especially if we get people there,” Warsofsky said of Cagnoni. “We want him to be a threat up there.. He sees the ice well. He knows what he wants to do with [the puck] before he gets it.”

To stick long-term in the NHL, the smallish left-hander will have to play passable defense as well. As of now, he’s on the third-pairing, playing on his off-side with Dmitry Orlov.

But, the 2023 fourth-round pick also knows what his bread-and-butter will be in the NHL.

“I’m not here to not bring any offensive ability,” Cagnoni said. “I’ve got to go show them what I can do and try to generate some offense for the team. That’s the goal.”