Ex-Chicago Blackhawk Drake Caggiula's career hits new low and it's over for the Edmonton Oiler
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?
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 5 | 26 ANSWERS Ex-Chicago Blackhawk Drake Caggiula's career hits new low and it's over for the Edmonton Oiler Do you think Drake Caggiula will be an AHL lifer? |
Yes | 21 | 80.8 % |
No | 5 | 19.2 % |
List of polls |
|
1 hour ago | By Joshua Deeds Tragedy Strikes Hockey Players After Freak Car Wreck |
|
2 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Blackhawks Connor Bedard Receives Dangerous Headshot to the Jaw That He Had Surgery on Last Season |
|
4 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Seth jones takes key youth defenseman out of Blackhawks lineup with return from injury |
|
5 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Chicago Blackhawks Complete Move With Seth Jones, Injury is now cleared |
|
6 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds NHL Goaltender Robin Lehner's Life Takes Significant Turn With Recent Social Media Plead |
|
9 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Detroit Red Wings' Patrick Kane Scores Milestone Goal From Incredible Angle |
|
9 hours ago | By Ryan Hall New Equipment Was Revealed For Blackhawks In The Winter Classic Game vs St. Louis |
|
22 hours ago | By Ryan Hall Chicago Blackhawks Taylor Hall Rumored To Be Traded To His Former Team |
Previously on HawksInsider