Buffalo Sabres: Will Drake Caggiula return to the lineup?

Perhaps no one on the Buffalo Sabres had it worse than Drake Caggiula in 2021-22 as the speedster missed most of the season with an injury. 

The Buffalo Sabres had an injury-riddled 2021-22 season until March 2022, when things appeared to shift for the hard-luck franchise. Most of the Sabres returned to action come March, and it resulted in an epic 35-point run to end the year.

They were the 12th-best team in hockey points-wise in that span, and their performances against some of the league’s best teams provided a lot of hope for the future. And it seemed like just about every Sabre contributed in some way. Every Sabre except for Drake Caggiula, that is. At least as far as skaters go.

Will the Buffalo Sabres see enough value in Drake Caggiula?

One of the most obscure players on the team, Caggiula scored just five points in 18 games. And for Caggiula, 2021-22 was not the season to land himself on injured reserve with a herniated disk. To put him further behind the eight-ball, he played in just 29 games for the Sabres over the past two seasons.

So hence the burning question: Will the injury affect Caggiula’s speed? If the Sabres believe it will, don’t expect him to return next season. Unless he’s willing to take a league-minimum deal.

At this point, it is hard to see Caggiula returning to the Sabres. Especially with the team growing younger amidst a culture change that has the franchise and the fan base fired up for next season. Caggiula just didn’t look like a valuable puzzle piece given his injury-riddled stint in Buffalo.

But, we can never say never, and at least consider the idea that general manager Kevyn Adams will value Caggiula’s speed and give him one more chance to prove himself on the ice. We will find out sooner than later.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)