Finally healthy, Penguins forward Drake Caggiula is showing he should stay in the NHL

There are three veterans in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp who never have played a game in the minor leagues.

Two are obvious. Forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are pillars of the franchise.

The other is journeyman forward Drake Caggiula, a player the Penguins signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000, the league minimum, this past summer.

Suffice it to say, two of those players have a slightly better chance at making the NHL roster to open the season than the third.

But that’s nothing new for the 28-year-old Caggiula, a native of Pickering, Ont., who was never drafted.

“Hard work, attention to detail. I don’t know,” Caggiula said when asked how he has avoided any time in the minor leagues. “I take a lot of pride in making it this far, especially not being drafted. I’ve never really been one of those people that’s been handed things in life, and I take a lot of pride in that. We all wish we could play 20 minutes a night and score 100 points. Sometimes, that’s just not the case so you’ve got to find another role and buy into that role. It’s not always the glamorous role that’s always being talked about. But you do the little things, and teams are looking for that, especially teams that are trying to win. ”

Caggiula has been doing some big things this preseason, albeit through the limited prism of training camp. During three intrasquad scrimmages in Cranberry, he has three goals. And he accounted for the Penguins’ lone score during a 3-1 road preseason loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday by cleaning up a rebound on a goalmouth scramble.

An impressive showing in camp is something to admire. But just being able to still exist as a professional hockey player is a resounding triumph for Caggiula (prounounced ka-ZHOO-lah).

As a member of the Sabres last season, Caggiula missed the final 64 games because of a herniated disc in his neck. The ailment put his career in jeopardy and even inhibited his quality of life away from the rink in profound ways.

“I had stabbing pain in my neck, shoulder, (pectoral muscle), arm,” Caggiula said. “Paralysis down my entire left arm. Weakness, muscle atrophy. You name it., I had it all. I couldn’t wake up or hold my kid because my arm was asleep 90% of the day. Couldn’t get a haircut because when you put your head back, my arm would go to sleep. Just everyday living was miserable.

“We waited three months to see if it would heal on its own. It never did. Finally got surgery and instant relief once I woke up in that surgical room.”

Caggiula underwent surgery in February and was able to resume skating in May. He did not receive final clearance for full contact until Sept. 1.

In between, he wasn’t sure what kind of contract offers he might receive. Ultimately, the Penguins signed him July 13, the first day of the NHL’s free agent signing period.

“It’s stressful,” said Caggiula, who indicated he is still trying to regain some strength in his left arm. “I’ve had some injuries. I’ve had some times where you miss a month or two. But I’ve never experienced anything like that. I’ve had to rely on family, friends, teammates, a mental coach just to get through it. I didn’t know if I was going to play hockey again or what the future held. Didn’t know if I’d get a contract once I was healthy. It was a pretty stressful time. But I just took one day at a time, did my best to get healthy and get ready for the start of the season and training camp.

“Here I am, skating in training camp all healthy. I think I’ve got a different outlook on life and hockey and general, so just trying to enjoy each day.”

Throughout his career, the left-handed Caggiula (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) has enjoyed 278 days in which he has appeared in an NHL game, exactly 278 more than he has experienced in the minor leagues.

Following his senior season at the University of North Dakota, Caggiula signed with the Edmonton Oilers and turned professional in 2016-17. In addition to the Sabres and Oilers, he has played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes. Though determination and ingenuity, he has found a way to stay in the NHL.

One of those ways has involved working with former Penguins forward Gary Roberts who, in retirement, has become a popular personal trainer among NHL players.

“Once I got to Edmonton, (Oilers star forward Connor) McDavid was working out with him,” Caggiula said. “McDavid basically asked me — but told me — ‘Hey, you should come with me to Gary Roberts.’ Of course, I’m not going to say no to that. I’ve been there ever since. He’s got your food, your supplements, your training, your on-ice, your off-ice treatment, everything. I was very fortunate. He had a neck injury very similar to mine, and he was a big help getting me through the process.”

So far in his brief time with the Penguins, Caggiula has done quite a bit to show he should remain in the NHL.

“I’ve been fortunate to play with some pretty talented players and try to play that complementary role on their line,” Caggiula said. “Do some of the little dirty work, do the little things and then fill a different role. Just try to find those little things and find ways to stay in the lineup and do things to help the team win.”