Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?
Cagnoni’s challenge, like Zellweger’s before him, is that he’s small (the Barracuda list him at 5-foot-9). Importantly, though, he’s a superb skater. His feet noticeably kick back through his forward skating stride, but he’s a plus-level skater for me in every other way, and his mobility is a major strength on the whole. He also wins on his smarts more than his skill, though I think because his hockey IQ is so high, and that’s the first thing people talk about, his skill level doesn’t get enough love (it’s legit for me). He walks the line really well, defends with his feet and can lace shots through or attack into space to use his quick release. He played a huge role on a top junior team for an established coach who has developed a lot of defensemen, has legitimate playmaking ability, and distinguishes himself on the back of his smarts (he understands spacing and plays within the flow of play and often one step ahead of it), rounded skill and footwork. He also plays at a playable weight (180 or so pounds) and has made important progress defending in man-to-man engagements. He’s going to have to keep proving people wrong to reach his upside as a No. 4/5 PP2 offensive defenseman with skating, IQ and offensive elements, but I’m a real believer. He was a second-rounder and not a fourth-rounder for me, and I think he has a real chance to run one of the Sharks’ power plays of the future (which is something their current blue line lacks) and challenge Sam Dickinson for those minutes.
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