Six days after trade, Caggiula finally joins new teammates
Visa problems delay move from Edmonton, but forward ready to go
Drake Caggiula’s journey to the Blackhawks began in his apartment, went through a junior team in Edmonton, Alberta, and finally — nearly a week after it began — landed him at MB Ice Arena to join his new teammates.
“It’s been a long week and hopefully (I’ll) get into a game soon,” Caggiula said Saturday at Hawks practice.
The six days it took to clear up visa issues were a bit of a blessing in disguise for Caggiula, a winger whom the Hawks acquired from the Oilers on Dec. 30 for defenseman Brandon Manning and prospect Robin Norell.
“It’s my first time being traded, so the extra time didn’t really hurt,” Caggiula, 24, said. “I was able to gather my stuff at the apartment and make sure I had everything ready to go. Sometimes some guys get traded and they’re gone right away, they don’t have any time to organize stuff at home, so that was a good thing for me. But I want to focus on playing hockey.”
Caggiula was at home playing video games with friends when he got a text from his agent alerting him to the rumors he might be traded. Less than 30 minutes later, the deal was done.
The immediate order of business was for Caggiula, a Canadian citizen, to obtain a U.S. work visa. It took longer than preferred, but he kept his legs fresh by practicing with a junior team in Edmonton.
Caggiula already went through one transition this season when the Oilers fired coach Todd McLellan and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock.
“Obviously, there’s going to be a bit of a learning curve,” Caggiula said. “(The Hawks) play a little bit of a different style than what I’m used to in Edmonton, but it should be an easy transition. I got a lot of people here already talking to me, helping me through the process.”
His new coach, Jeremy Colliton, was still with Rockford when Caggiula scored twice against the Hawks — including a short-handed goal — on Nov. 1, but Colliton has seen enough of the newcomer’s game to believe he’ll be a good fit.
“I like that he’s got a real high compete level and gritty and will get in the dirty areas. And he’s got a little bit of skill too,” Colliton said. “(He) can play different forward positions, so that’s exciting. That’ll add a little depth and competition to our forward group. We’ll see what he can do.”
At practice Saturday, Caggiula went through drills on the fourth line with Chris Kunitz and Marcus Kruger. Caggiula has 27 goals in 156 career games and probably is better suited for the third line if he can regain his scoring touch. He has seven goals this season but just three in his last 21 games and none in his last 12.
Caggiula played college hockey at North Dakota with former Hawk Nick Schmaltz and Luke Johnson, who is currently with the IceHogs, and talked with both to help get the lay of the land.
“They’re not here right now, so that kind of sucks,” Caggiula said. “But I know a couple of guys and see some familiar faces here, so that makes the transition here a little easier.”