With the San Jose Sharks trading Jake Walman to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, the No. 1 defenseman spot is left open.
Walman set career highs in assists (26), points (32), and time on ice per game (23:11). He’s been a staple on the Sharks’ top power-play and top penalty-kill units.
San Jose has dealt Walman, Nico Sturm, Vitek Vanecek, Mackenzie Blackwood, Cody Ceci, and Mikael Granlund this season. Luke Kunin was held out of Thursday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche for trade reasons but hasn’t been officially dealt.
Walman leaves behind a role that someone in the San Jose Sharks organization must fill. Other offensive-minded defensemen already in the NHL include Timothy Liljegren and Jack Thompson. The most significant difference between Walman and the two mentioned before is Walman is left-handed.
Thompson (22) and Liljegren (25) are young and have shown flashes of solid offensive ability, but arguably, the best player to replace Walman, at least offensively, is Luca Cagnoni.
Cagnoni has starred in his first professional hockey season. The 2023 4th-round pick has proven that his height (5’9) isn’t an issue. In 52 games, Cagnoni has 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists). His 41 points rank 4th in rookie scoring in the AHL. Remember, he’s a defenseman.
Cagnoni was solid in the preseason for the San Jose Sharks and was one of the last remaining cuts from training camp. In four games, the d-man had a goal and three assists and was dynamic running a power-play unit with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith on the flanks.
The 20-year-old prospect has a great defensive stick and surprisingly wins many puck battles along the boards. His smooth skating and elite edges allow him to maneuver around the ice in a way that’s needed for a player of his stature.
The Sharks may be hesitant to give the young d-man an extended look in the NHL, but with Walman unexpectedly on the move, why not give Cagnoni a chance to see what he can do?
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