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“I was thinking ‘oh, wow, didn’t see that (Wideman) coming,’ and I headed home and was playing Xbox with a couple of buddies from back home.”

He was chilling in his apartment when his agent texted him.

“He was on his way to the Dominican Republic for a family vacation and he texted me saying he’d heard some rumours but said he didn’t expect anything to happen while he was away, especially on holiday. He said ‘don’t worry about.’ Then half an hour I got a call from Peter (Chiarelli),” said Caggiula. “I texted my agent back and said ‘uh, done deal.’’’ I absolutely had no idea my name was being thrown around. But I guess Chicago had been trying to get me since I signed with Edmonton instead of Chicago.”

After the trade Caggiula became a nowhereman, though, because he had to get new work papers. He couldn’t get out of town. It took him almost a week as he packed clothes and boxes and practised with the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

“You’re part of another team (trade) but you’re not really part of any team at that point. You’re stuck in no-man’s land. One team is pretty much done with you and the other team is trying to start with you but they can’t because they’re waiting for all the paperwork. It becomes a bit of a crapshoot,” said Caggiula, who had to find a team to workout with, to stay in shape.

“I couldn’t skate with the Oil Kings because the Oilers own them so I ended up skating with the Crusaders for two days … somebody in Chicago knew their GM but also Matt Benning’s brother Michael (committed to Denver University) plays for Sherwood Park. Matt texted me and said maybe I should go there,” he said.