Drake Caggiula hasn’t not reported to the Blackhawks yet, and team general manager Stan Bowman said Monday that he hopes the winger’s visa clearance comes by the end of the week.
Chicago acquired Caggiula in a four-player trade Sunday with the Oilers that saw defenseman Brandon Manning and prospect Robin Norell go to Edmonton. Defenseman Jason Garrison, who was also part of the trade, was placed on waivers Monday to be assigned to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.
The 24-year-old Caggiula has seven goals and four assists with an average of 14:03 of ice time in 29 games this season for Edmonton. He posted a career-high 20 points last season with the Oilers. Caggiula’s contract runs through the 2019-20 season with a $1.5 million annual salary cap hit.
Bowman said after Caggiula decided to sign with the Oilers after his playingplaying days days at the University of North Dakota, the Blackhawks continued to track his play and he believes Caggiula is “going to complement our team.”
The Blackhawks host the Bruins in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, before visiting the New York Islanders on Thursday at Nassau Coliseum and Penguins on Sunday.