Drake Caggiula was technically never a prospect. He went straight to the NHL. He was a free agent signing.
You really need to look at the history of these college UFAs to see how often they turn to nothing. The most successful one in the salary cap era was Tyler Bozak. These guys aren't heralded as highly skilled talents. If they were, they would've been drafted.
Please don't confuse these guys with the players we draft. They're nice depth because they're guys who can step in on an ELC in the instance you lack the prospect depth orginationally. But once that ELC ends, it's best to walk away from a player like Caggiula because $1.5m can get you one or two NHL players in free agency.
I don't care where they come from. All young players have the potential for growth.
A prospect is simply a person regarded as likely to succeed therefore any young player is technically a prospect (regardless of source)
Again, Draft should not be an indicator of where the guy needs to play tomorrow.
All young guys should be treated equal, taught equally, and earn the right to play equally.
Drake would have been absolutely fine playing a 4th line role, getting little bumps in the
lineup when his play elevated.
Paying Drake was simply an over payment for Manning.
Paying a 3rd and Wideman was over payment for Petrovic
Its why PC is gone.