Ex-Chicago Blackhawk Drake Caggiula's career hits new low and it's over for the Edmonton Oiler

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Joshua Deeds
November 5, 2024 (8:45 PM)

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Former Blackhawk Drake Caggiula's career has hit an all-time low this year. He's been unable to crack the NHL lineup and once again has been sent to the AHL.

Caggiula's in the 2nd year of a two-way deal which began with the Oilers in 2023-2024.

The depth forward was signed by the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent out of college, where his first stint in Edmonton in 2016-2017.

He'd play 158 games in the organization before he'd be shipped to Chicago in 2018-2019.

On December 30, 2018, Caggiula was traded by the Oilers along with Jason Garrison to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brandon Manning and Robin Norell.

The UFA signed a two-way, league minimum contract with an AAV of $775K, and will once again play the majority of the season in the AHL.

Caggiula appeared in 156 games with the Oilers when he entered the league scoring 27 goals and 49 points over that time. His career highs of 13 goals and 23 points each came in Edmonton, albeit in separate years. In the 126 games he's played with the Blackhawks, Sabres, Coyotes and Penguins, he's scored 19 goals and 42 points

Caggiula's goal is eventually to return to the NHL, but will have to reedem himself in the AHL.

«For me it's been a journey of redemption and perseverance,» he said.

«Strange in a sense (being back) I don't know how many days it's been. Five hundred, six hundred days since I played my last (NHL game). I had those first-game jitters again,» said Caggiula, who was dealt from here to the Blackhawks for Brandon Manning Dec. 30, 2018, the day after he assisted on Caleb Jones's first NHL goal, and in his first game back from the minors, he helped out on Noah Philp's first NHL point in Nashville Thursday.

Caggiula only played 2 games in the NHL this season, putting up an assist before being reassigned to the AHL.

Since the 2024-2025 season has started in Bakersfield he is a point-per-game player in the AHL. Caggiula has scored 5 points( 2 G, 3 A).

Will he ever see the NHL in a full-time role again?