Minutes after the news of junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley signing his first professional contract, one of Cornell’s most prolific offensive weapons has followed suit.
Junior forward Jonathan Castagna inked an NHL entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on Monday, meaning Castagna will forgo his final year of NCAA eligibility. Castagna will report to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Flames, the Calgary Wranglers, on a professional tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season.
“It's tough to put to words how much this really means to me,” Castagna said. “Really awesome moment. … I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since the whole crew walked in today.”
Castagna’s junior campaign at Cornell saw him achieve career-bests in almost every category. A key driver of the Red’s offense, Castagna led the team in goals (15), points (34) and plus/minus (+23). He was one of, if not the best, faceoff men in the nation, boasting a 65.5% win rate at the dot. The next closest player fared more than 4% worse than Castagna.
The Saturday morning after Denver defeated Cornell in the NCAA Tournament, it was reported that the Flames sent two front office executives to Loveland, Colorado, where Castagna had been staying with the team. From there, it was concluded that Castagna would sign with the team.
Castagna was originally drafted by the Arizona Coyotes — which later became the Utah Mammoth — in the third round (170th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded from Utah to Calgary on March 4 as part of a larger deal for both squads, shifting his draft rights from the Mammoth to the Flames.
When Calgary acquired Castagna, it seemed to increase Castagna’s chances of signing a professional contract prior to his senior year. Because of the depth of Utah’s prospect pool at the center position, the Mammoth were less likely to sign Castagna — had Utah refrained from signing him, Castagna might have returned for his final season at Cornell, let his draft rights expire after four years and sign with a team other than Utah.
When Calgary acquired Castagna and showed great interest in the dynamic center, plans changed.
“I think there's a lot of opportunity there,” Castagna told The Sun on March 7. “The fact that they took me is a message that they value me and they like me, which [I’m] extremely honored and grateful for that.”
The sentiment is clearly echoed — Flames director of player development, Ray Edwards, called Castagna ‘as pro ready as they come’ in the days following the trade.
Sportsnet also reported, on March 11, that Castagna would be “open” to signing with Calgary following the conclusion of his junior season.
“I’m not saying anything definite right now, but hopefully I can contribute to the Flames. It’s been my dream,” Castagna said. “If I get to have that opportunity to play in the NHL, and make an impact in the NHL, I’m going to take it. So we’ll have to see how it all plays out. I guess the only thing I can tell you right now is I will not shut it down.”
Castagna has been one of Cornell’s top offensive pieces since arriving in Ithaca as a freshman. He finishes his collegiate career with 31 goals and 43 assists for 74 points across three seasons.
The early departure of Castagna raises new questions concerning the makeup of Cornell’s roster next season. It will be up to the likes of players like junior forwards Jake Kraft and Luke Devlin, sophomore forward Charlie Major and freshman forwards Caton Ryan, Aiden Long and Gio DiGiulian, among others, to fill the void left by Castagna.
The signing also raises the prospect of junior forward and captain Ryan Walsh returning for his senior season. It was reported in March 2025 that Walsh was approached by the team that drafted him, the Boston Bruins, about signing a professional contract. Walsh finished second behind Castagna in points (33) and third in goals (10).
Jane McNally is a senior editor on the 143rd editorial board and was the sports editor on the 142nd editorial board. She is a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You can follow her on X @JaneMcNally_ and reach her at jmcnally@cornellsun.com.
