SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks are giving one of their prospects on defense another look at the NHL level as they get set to wind down the regular season.
The Sharks on Sunday recalled top-scoring defenseman Luca Cagnoni from the Barracuda of the AHL as they get set to begin what is likely a season-ending three-game road trip.
Cagnoni, now in his second year as a professional, is 10th among all AHL defensemen in scoring this season with eight goals and 35 assists in 67 games with the Barracuda.
Cagnoni, a left-shot defenseman, played six games with the Sharks late last season and had two assists as he averaged 17:39 in ice time. He was also recalled by the Sharks in mid-October of this season, but did not play in a game.
The Sharks have several holes to fill on their defense corps, as just two defensemen, Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson, are signed past this season, with Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy, John Klingberg, and Vincent Desharnais all pending unrestricted free agents.
Cagnoni, 21, was taken by the Sharks in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Following a stellar junior career with the Portland Winterhawks, where he had 193 points in 205 games, the 5-foot-9, 18-pound Cagnoni turned pro last season and had 52 points in 64 games.
The Sharks have lost three straight and four of their last five and could be eliminated from playoff contention as soon as Monday when they face the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. A loss in any fashion would extend the Sharks’ playoff drought to seven years.
After Monday, the Sharks close the regular season with games against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday and the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.