San Jose Sharks rookie defenseman Luca Cagnoni made his much-anticipated NHL debut on Thursday following the 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Cagnoni became the first defenseman from the 2023 NHL Draft to play in the NHL. The Sharks rookie told reporters he did not know that postgame.
“I mean, I’ve been saying it all week since the call-up, it’s pretty surreal,” Cagnoni said postgame. “Definitely where I started my career, like not getting drafted in the WHL. It’s a pretty special moment, even for my family. Probably them the most. To see me go through it and them being by my side, It’s pretty special to have them here.”
Cagnoni led all Sharks players in ice time with 23:15. He was paired with Vincent Desharnais on defense, and head coach Ryan Warsofsky liked what he saw.
“The game started slowing down for him in the second and third period,” Warsofsky said. “Luca helps from a puck-moving standpoint.”
The 20-year-old Sharks prospect agreed with his coach on how he felt during the game.
“In the game, [the] first period was pretty tough. They’re a hell of a team over there, top of the league,” Cagnoni said. “It was definitely nice to play a good team and get my feet under me. In the second and third, I thought I was a little bit better.”
The San Jose Sharks are rewarding Cagnoni for his stellar play and development. The former Portland Winterhawks d-man was able to recognize his remarkable achievement.
Cagnoni’s welcome to the NHL moment was when he stepped onto the ice for his rookie lap.
“That rookie lap kind of does it for me,” Cagnoni said. “It’s a special moment. I get to look around and see all the people there. I saw my roommates and some other guys. It’s a pretty special moment.”
The Sharks will practice on Friday and play against the Boston Bruins on Saturday in what looks like Cagnoni’s second NHL game.
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