Jujhar Khaira

Jujhar Khaira (born August 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Iowa Wild of 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.

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 Forward
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

Playing career

Khaira was selected 63rd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft after his second season in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Prince George Spruce Kings. Shortly after the draft, Khaira committed to play collegiate ice hockey with Michigan Tech of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).[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 (WHL) with the Everett Silvertips. On August 7, 2013, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Edmonton Oilers.[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 postseason, Khaira then made his professional debut with the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, joining the club for their postseason 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.[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, recording two assists.

Khaira was a regular with the Condors for the 2016–17 season, and was occasionally called up to the NHL. 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, he 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, 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] Khaira 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] Minnesota recalled Khaira on October 26, 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 for university's Calgary Dinos ice hockey team.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 5810324221 —————
2011–12 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 5429507969 40222
2012–13 Michigan Tech WCHA 376192549 —————
2013–14 Everett Silvertips WHL 5916274359 53148
2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 60002 31010
2014–15 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 51461062 83144
2015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 4910172769 —————
2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 1502213 —————
2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 278122031 —————
2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 101012 —————
2017–18 Edmonton Oilers NHL 6911102147 —————
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 603151843 —————
2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 64641038 40002
2020–21 Edmonton Oilers NHL 40381142 41016
2021–22 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 2730313 —————
2022–23 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 51681431 —————
2023–24 Iowa Wild AHL 225131810 —————
2023–24 Minnesota Wild NHL 10000 —————
NHL totals 337334780229 81018

See also
  • List of Indian NHL players

References
  1. "Bulldogs defenceman Hyland commits to michigan tech". BCHL.ca. Alberni Valley Bulldogs. November 4, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2017. Hyland is the third current BCHL player to commit to Michigan Tech along with Jujhar Khaira and Alex Petan.
  2. "Oilers agree to terms with Jujhar Khaira". Edmonton Oilers. August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  3. Wescott, Chris (December 5, 2015). "Khaira a good sign of Oilers development". NHL.com. Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Oilers. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  4. Matheson, Jim (November 26, 2015). "Oilers Nail Yakupov out two to four weeks with sprained ankle". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  5. Staples, David (October 31, 2015). "Edmonton Oilers next best bet at Bakersfield: JJ Khaira". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  6. Wyshynski, Greg (November 28, 2015). "Jujhar Khaira becomes just 3rd ever Punjabi player in NHL history". Puck Daddy. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  7. Clinton, Jared (November 27, 2015). "Oilers' Jujhar Khaira aiming to become third Punjabi player to suit up in NHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  8. Tychkowski, Robert (January 17, 2017). "Oilers put Coyotes out of their misery". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  9. Farrell, Sean (December 9, 2017). "Khaira, Oilers ease past Price, Canadiens". NHL.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  10. "Khaira scores twice as Oilers chase Price, rout Habs". TSN.ca. Montreal: TSN. October 9, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 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. 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. Spector, Mark (January 17, 2017). "Jujhar Khaira's first NHL goal a special moment for hockey". SportsNet. Retrieved April 5, 2024. 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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