Jujhar Khaira
Khaira with the Bakersfield Condors in 2017
Born (1994-08-13) August 13, 1994
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Minnesota Wild
Iowa Wild (AHL)
Edmonton Oilers
Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft 63rd overall, 2012
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2014–present

Jujhar Khaira (born August 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career

Khaira was drafted by the Oilers after his second season in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Prince George Spruce Kings. Shortly after the draft, Khaira committed to play collegiate hockey with Michigan Tech of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.[1]

At the completion of his freshman season in 2012–13 with the Huskies, Khaira left college to pursue a major junior career closer to home in the Western Hockey League with the Everett Silvertips. On August 7, 2013, he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers after being selected in the second round of the NHL draft during the previous year.[2] In the following 2013–14 season, Khaira posted 43 points in 59 games with the Silvertips. At the elimination in first-round of the post-season, Khaira then made his professional debut with the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, joining the club for their post-season run.[3]

In the second year of his entry-level contract, Khaira and the Oilers AHL affiliation moved to the new Bakersfield Condors.[3] During this 2015–16 NHL season, Khaira was called up to the Oilers on November 26, 2015, playing his first NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 28, 2015.[4][5] This made Khaira only the third player of Punjabi Indian descent to play in the NHL, after Robin Bawa and Manny Malhotra.[6][7] Khaira played 15 games at the NHL level that season, earning 2 assists.

Khaira was a regular with the Condors for the 2016–17 season, and occasional call up to the NHL Oilers. During his second NHL game that season, on January 16, 2017, Khaira scored his first NHL goal, against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes.[8] On December 9 of the same year, Khaira earned his first multi-goal game, scoring twice against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.[9][10]

Following the 2020–21 season, his sixth season in Edmonton, Khaira as a pending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Oilers on July 26, 2021.[11]

On July 28, 2021, Khaira signed a two-year, $1.95 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.[12] His first season in Chicago was marred with injuries. Khaira missed nearly a month after suffering a concussion following a collision with Jacob Trouba on December 7.[13] He suffered a back injury nine games after returning that required season-ending surgery.[13] Kharia finished the season with three goals in 27 games for the Blackhawks.[13]

On September 17, 2023, Khaira signed a one-year two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.[14] The Wild recalled Khaira on October 26, 2023, from the Iowa Wild.[15]

Personal life

Khaira is a Sikh[16] and the third NHL player of Indian or Punjabi descent, following Robin Bawa (starting in 1989) and Manny Malhotra (starting in 1998).[6]

Khaira's parents were prominent volleyball players in British Columbia during the 1980s. His brother, Sahvan Khaira, attends the University of Calgary and formerly played on the Calgary Dinos men's ice hockey team in 2019-2020.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 58 10 32 42 21 — — — — —
2011–12 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 54 29 50 79 69 4 0 2 2 2
2012–13 Michigan Tech WCHA 37 6 19 25 49 — — — — —
2013–14 Everett Silvertips WHL 59 16 27 43 59 5 3 1 4 8
2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 6 0 0 0 2 3 1 0 1 0
2014–15 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 51 4 6 10 62 8 3 1 4 4
2015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 49 10 17 27 69 — — — — —
2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 15 0 2 2 13 — — — — —
2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 27 8 12 20 31 — — — — —
2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 10 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Edmonton Oilers NHL 69 11 10 21 47 — — — — —
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 60 3 15 18 43 — — — — —
2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 64 6 4 10 38 4 0 0 0 2
2020–21 Edmonton Oilers NHL 40 3 8 11 42 4 1 0 1 6
2021–22 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 27 3 0 3 13 — — — — —
2022–23 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 51 6 8 14 31 — — — — —
NHL totals 336 33 47 80 229 8 1 0 1 8

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bulldogs defenceman Hyland commits to michigan tech". BCHL.ca. Alberni Valley Bulldogs. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2017. Hyland is the third current BCHL player to commit to Michigan Tech along with Jujhar Khaira and Alex Petan.
  2. ↑ edmontonoilers.com staff (2013-08-07). "Oilers agree to terms with Jujhar Khaira". Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  3. 1 2 Wescott, Chris (5 December 2015). "Khaira a good sign of Oilers development". NHL.com. Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  4. ↑ Matheson, Jim (2015-11-26). "Oilers Nail Yakupov out two to four weeks with sprained ankle". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  5. ↑ Staples, David (2015-10-31). "Edmonton Oilers next best bet at Bakersfield: JJ Khaira". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  6. 1 2 Wyshynski, Greg (2015-11-28). "Jujhar Khaira becomes just 3rd ever Punjabi player in NHL history". Puck Daddy. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  7. ↑ Clinton, Jared (2015-11-27). "Oilers' Jujhar Khaira aiming to become third Punjabi player to suit up in NHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  8. ↑ Tychkowski, Robert (2017-01-17). "Oilers put Coyotes out of their misery". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  9. ↑ NHL (2017-12-09), Khaira strikes twice in Oilers' 6-2 win against Habs, retrieved 2017-12-10
  10. ↑ The Canadian Press (9 October 2017). "Khaira scores twice as Oilers chase Price, rout Habs". TSN.ca. Montreal: TSN. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Oilers issue qualifying offers to four players". Edmonton Oilers. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Blackhawks agree to terms with Jujhar Khaira". Chicago Blackhawks. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 Pope, Ben (February 23, 2022). "Blackhawks' Jujhar Khaira likely out for season after back surgery". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Minnesota Wild Signs Forward Jujhar Khaira". Minnesota Wild. September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Minnesota Wild Recalls Forward Jujhar Khaira From Iowa". Minnesota Wild. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Jujhar Khaira's first NHL goal a special moment for hockey". SportsNet. Jujhar Khaira learned hockey on the streets of Surrey, B.C., a Sikh kid and his little brother scoring their Game 7, Stanley Cup-winning goals while in runners, shooting a tennis ball
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