{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Drake Caggiula (30228545585).jpg | caption = Caggiula with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1994|6|20}} | birth_place = Pickering, Ontario, Canada | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lb = 179 | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | league = NL | team = Lausanne HC | prospect_league = | prospect_team = | former_teams = Edmonton Oilers<br>Chicago Blackhawks<br>Arizona Coyotes<br>Buffalo Sabres<br>Pittsburgh Penguins | ntl_team = | draft = Undrafted | career_start = 2016 | career_end = }}
'''Drake Caggiula''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|dʒ|uː|l|ə}}; born June 20, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing currently playing for Lausanne HC in Switzerland's National League. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
==Early life== Caggiula was born on June 20, 1994, in Pickering, Ontario, Canada<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Drake Caggiula |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/97396/drake-caggiula |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Elite Prospects}}</ref> to parents Sal and Terri Caggiula.<ref name="fightinghawks bio">{{cite web |title=Drake Caggiula |url=https://fightinghawks.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/drake-caggiula/5784 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=fightinghawks.com}}</ref> His father coached and mentored him from the ages of eight to 15.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2016 |title=Drake Caggiula makes name for himself with Oilers |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/drake-caggiula-makes-name-oilers/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Sportsnet |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Junior=== Growing up in Pickering, Caggiula played minor midget hockey with the Ajax/Pickering Raiders in 2009–10 before being drafted in the third round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) by the Erie Otters. At the time of the draft, Caggiula had finished the season with 95 points through 66 games.<ref name="ohahockey">{{cite web |date=July 17, 2017 |title=JR. A Grad Profile: Drake Caggiula |url=http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/news/news_489071 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309034618/http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/news/news_489071 |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2022}}</ref> In order to maintain his NCAA eligibility, Caggiula chose to instead play with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).<ref name="McKenzie">{{cite web |last1=McKenzie |first1=Bob |date=March 30, 2015 |title=A tale of two NCAA prospects |url=https://www.tsn.ca/a-tale-of-two-ncaa-prospects-1.243662 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=The Sports Network}}</ref> As a rookie in the OJHL, Caggiula was selected for the OJHL North-West Conference 1st Team All-Prospect after tallying 45 points in 48 games.<ref name="ohahockey"/> Due to his success at the junior level, Caggiula was drafted by the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 17, 2011 |title=Pickering's Drake Caggiula drafted by Des Moines of USHL |url=https://www.durhamregion.com/community-story/3449563-pickering-s-drake-caggiula-drafted-by-des-moines-of-ushl/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Durham Region}}</ref> He attended the Buccaneers USHL Fall Classic event before returning to the Spirit for another season. During this time, Caggiula verbally accepted a full scholarship offer to play college hockey for the University of North Dakota of the NCAA.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayakawa |first1=Michael |date=December 12, 2011 |title=Drake Caggiula commits to North Dakota |url=https://www.toronto.com/community-story/3500547-drake-caggiula-commits-to-north-dakota/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220309033510/https://www.toronto.com/community-story/3500547-drake-caggiula-commits-to-north-dakota/ |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Toronto}}</ref>
Upon returning to the Spirit for a second season, Caggiula helped push them through a long playoff berth by tallying 17 goals and 37 points en route to their first-ever OJHL title.<ref name="ohahockey"/> He was subsequently selected for the OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect for the second straight season and was named the most valuable player of the OJHL playoffs.<ref name = "fightinghawks bio"/> During the season, Caggiula also participated in the inaugural Central Canada Cup Challenge championship against the Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA du Quebec All-Stars <ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayakawa |first1=Michael |date=December 30, 2011 |title=Quebec thumps OJHL stars to win title |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/1465071-quebec-thumps-ojhl-stars-to-win-title/ |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Aurora Banner}}</ref>
===Collegiate=== Caggiula played for the Fighting Sioux at the University of North Dakota from 2012 to 2016 while majoring in kinesiology.<ref name = "fightinghawks bio"/> Upon joining the team for his freshman season, Caggiula played as a left-winger alongside Rocco Grimaldi and Carter Rowney.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schlossman |first1=Brad Elliott |date=December 5, 2012 |title=Freshman settling in for UND |url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/freshman-settling-in-for-und |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead}}</ref> In his freshman year at North Dakota, Caggiula played in 39 games and ranked second among the team's rookies in points, goals, and assists.<ref name = "fightinghawks bio"/> The following season, Caggiula participated in the 2014 Frozen Four, where North Dakota lost 2–1 against Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 11, 2014 |title=Minn. scores winning goal with 0.6 on clock vs. North Dakota |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-men/article/2014-04-11/minnesotas-goal-06-clock-sends-north-dakota-home-semis |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=ncaa.com}}</ref>
Prior to his junior year at North Dakota, Caggiula was invited and participated in the Buffalo Sabres 2014 Development camp.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ray |first1=Joe |date=July 17, 2014 |title=IN HIS OWN WORDS: DRAKE CAGGIULA |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/in-his-own-words-drake-caggiula/c-30684 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> He began his junior season strong by averaging 1.44 points per game during November for 13 points through nine games. His point total led the conference and was tied for third nationally.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 3, 2014 |title=UND'S CAGGIULA EARNS NCHC PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER |url=https://www.nchchockey.com/news_article/show/453275 |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=NCHC}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> At the conclusion of his junior year, Caggiula was named to the NCHC Second All-Star Team.<ref name="Second Team All-NCHC">{{cite web |date=March 11, 2015 |title=CAGGIULA NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL-NCHC |url=http://ojhl.pointstreaksites.com/view/ojhl/news-21/news_292568 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=ojhl.pointstreaksites.com}}</ref>
In his senior season with North Dakota in 2015–16, Caggiula led North Dakota to win the 2016 NCAA championship and was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.<ref name="free agent">{{cite web |date=April 19, 2016 |title=Free agent Caggiula begins making NHL rounds |url=https://www.tsn.ca/talent/free-agent-caggiula-begins-making-nhl-rounds-1.474440 |website=The Sports Network}}</ref> He was also named to the Second-Team All-American West<ref name="All-American">{{cite web |title=2015-16 All-Americans |url=http://ahcahockey.com/allamer/2016.php |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=ahcahockey.com}}</ref> and to the NCHC First All-Star Team.<ref name="1st Team All-NCHC">{{cite web |date=March 9, 2016 |title=CAGGIULA NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-NCHC |url=http://pointstreaksites.com/view/ojhl/news-21/news_417379 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=pointstreaksites.com}}</ref> Following the end of the season, Caggiula gained attention from numerous NHL teams as the top available collegiate free agent.<ref name = "free agent"/><ref>{{cite web |date=May 3, 2016 |title=Kuzma: Canucks covet college free-agent Caggiula |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/kuzma-canucks-covet-college-free-agent-caggiula}}</ref> On May 7, 2016, Caggiula agreed to a two-year entry-level deal with the Edmonton Oilers.<ref>{{cite web |date=2016-05-07 |title=Drake Caggiula's father thanks UND fans |url=http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/4032637-und-hockey-drake-caggiulas-father-thanks-und-fans |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919122007/http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/4032637-und-hockey-drake-caggiulas-father-thanks-und-fans |archive-date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=2016-05-07 |website=Grand Forks Herald}}</ref>
===Professional=== Although Caggiula was expected to make his debut on October 12, it was delayed due to an injury.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNair |first1=Brian |date=October 20, 2016 |title=Pickering's Drake Caggiula has NHL debut with Edmonton Oilers delayed by injury |url=https://www.durhamregion.com/community-story/6917423-pickering-s-drake-caggiula-has-nhl-debut-with-edmonton-oilers-delayed-by-injury/ |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=durhamregion.com}}</ref> His debut eventually came on November 19 in a 5–2 win over the Dallas Stars.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frankson |first1=Ryan |date=November 20, 2016 |title=Drake's dream debut |url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/drakes-dream-debut/c-283913730 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> Caggiula scored his first NHL goal on December 3, 2016 in an Oilers overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 3, 2016 |title=Talbot's 31 saves, Draisaitl's OT winner lead Oilers past Ducks |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/talbots-31-saves-draisaitls-ot-winner-lead-oilers-past-ducks/ |access-date=December 3, 2016 |website=Sportsnet |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref>
On June 14, 2018, Caggiula re-signed with the Oilers on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 14, 2018 |title=Oilers sign forward Drake Caggiula to two-year contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/oilers-sign-forward-drake-caggiula-two-year-contract/ |access-date=June 24, 2018 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref> During the 2018–19 season, Caggiula suffered a hand injury during a game against the St. Louis Blues and was placed on injured reserve. At the time of the injury, Caggiula had recorded 10 points in 23 games.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 6, 2018 |title=Oilers place Drake Caggiula on injured reserve with hand injury |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/oilers-place-drake-caggiula-injured-reserve-hand-injury/ |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=Sportsnet}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 30, 2018 |title=Blackhawks acquire Caggiula and Garrison from Oilers |url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-acquire-caggiula-and-garrison-from-edmonton/c-303384700 |access-date=December 30, 2018 |website=Chicago Blackhawks}}</ref> On February 1, 2019, Caggiula scored his first goal as a Blackhawk in a 7–3 win against the Buffalo Sabres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chicago Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres Box Score — February 1, 2019 |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201902010BUF.html |access-date=2020-01-30 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Despite hampered by injury in the 2019–20 season, Caggiula was a dependable role player with the Blackhawks, posting 9 goals and 15 points in 40 regular season games, before the season was effectively cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to salary cap constraints, Caggilua as an impending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by Blackhawks, ending his two-year tenure and releasing him to free agency on October 8, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 8, 2020 |title=Drake Caggiula not qualified by Chicago |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/drake-caggiula-not-qualified-by-chicago/ |access-date=October 8, 2020 |work=CBS Sports}}</ref> On December 21, 2020, Caggiula was signed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Coyotes sign Drake Caggiula to a one-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coyotes-sign-drake-caggiula-to-one-year-contract/c-319859816 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |website=Arizona Coyotes}}</ref> In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Caggiula appeared in 27 regular season contests, posting 1 goal and 7 points, before he was placed on waivers by Arizona on April 8, 2021, and was subsequently claimed by the Buffalo Sabres the following day.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Sabres add F Caggiula off waivers |url=https://www.tsn.ca/buffalo-sabres-add-f-drake-caggiula-off-waivers-1.1620798 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=The Sports Network}}</ref>
thumb|upright=.7|left|Caggiula (right, with the puck) with Lausanne HC against Ingolstadt in the Champions Hockey League in 2025.
On July 27, 2021, Caggiula signed a one-year, $750,000 extension with the Sabres.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 27, 2021 |title=Sabres sign Drake Caggiula to one-year deal |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-sign-drake-caggiula-to-one-year-deal/c-325829878 |accessdate=July 27, 2021 |website=Buffalo Sabres}}</ref>
As a free agent from the Sabres, on July 13, 2022, Caggiula signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 13, 2022 |title=Penguins sign Drake Caggiula to one-year deal |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-sign-forward-drake-caggiula-to-a-one-year-contract/c-334969482 |accessdate=July 13, 2022 |website=Pittsburgh Penguins}}</ref>
After a single season within the Penguins organization, Caggiula left as a free agent and opted to return to his original club, the Edmonton Oilers, after securing a two-year, two-way contract on July 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 1, 2023 |title=Oilers sign Drake Caggiula to two-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-sign-drake-caggiula-to-two-year-contract/c-345155708 |accessdate=July 1, 2023 |website=Edmonton Oilers}}</ref>
===Switzerland===
On June 2, 2025, Caggiula signed a one-year contract to play for Lausanne HC in Switzerland's National League.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2, 2025 |title=Ex-NHLer Drake Gaggiula Signs In Switzerland |url=https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/ex-nhler-drake-gaggiula-signs-in-switzerland |accessdate=June 3, 2025 |website=The Hockey News}}</ref>
==Personal life== His older brother Brody previously played hockey and is a Level 4R Ontario Minor Hockey Association official.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 17, 2017 |title=HOW I RAISED MY HOCKEY FAMILY |url=https://www.omha.net/news_article/show/845434 |access-date=December 24, 2018 |website=omha.net}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2010–11 | Stouffville Spirit | OJHL | 48 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | Des Moines Buccaneers | USHL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2011–12 | Stouffville Spirit | OJHL | 25 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 36 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 38 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2012–13 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 39 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2013–14 | University of North Dakota | NCHC | 42 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2014–15 | University of North Dakota | NCHC | 42 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2015–16 | University of North Dakota | NCHC | 39 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 60 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 25 |- | 2017–18 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 67 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 29 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2018–19 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 26 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 40 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 32 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |- | 2020–21 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 27 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2021–22 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 65 | 22 | 31 | 53 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2022–23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 43 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2024–25 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 62 | 24 | 28 | 52 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 289 ! 46 ! 46 ! 92 ! 141 ! 21 ! 4 ! 2 ! 6 ! 27 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | colspan="3" | OJHL |- | First Team All-Prospect | 2011–12 | <ref>{{cite web |date=2015-04-02 |title=Canadians in Frozen Four happy to have chosen U.S. for hockey |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/ncaa-frozen-four-canadians-1.3524061 |access-date=2015-04-02 |website=CBC.ca}}</ref> |- | Playoff MVP | 2011–12 | |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | colspan="3" | College |- | NCHC Second All-Star Team | 2014–15 | <ref name = "Second Team All-NCHC"/> |- | NCHC First All-Star Team | 2015–16 |<ref name = "1st Team All-NCHC"/> |- | Second-Team All-American West | 2015-16 | <ref name = "All-American"/> |- | NCAA All-Tournament Team | 2016 |- | NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player | 2016 | <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-men/article/2016-04-09/frozen-four-drake-caggiula-gets-perfect-ending-north-dakota | title = Drake Caggiula gets the perfect ending to North Dakota career | publisher = ncaa.com | date = 2016-04-10 | accessdate = 2026-05-02}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8479465|elite=97396|espn=|euro=|hr=c/caggidr01|hockeydb=130233|legendsm=|legends=|legendstype=|tsn=}}
{{S-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Jon Gillies| title = NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player | years = 2016| after = Jarid Lukosevicius}} {{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caggiula, Drake}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans Category:Arizona Coyotes players Category:Bakersfield Condors players Category:Buffalo Sabres players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent Category:Chicago Blackhawks players Category:Des Moines Buccaneers players Category:Edmonton Oilers players Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario Category:NCAA men's ice hockey national champions Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players Category:Sportspeople from Pickering, Ontario Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players Category:University of North Dakota alumni Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players