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Jujhar Khaira (born August 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild.
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. 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.
In the second year of his entry-level contract, Khaira and the Oilers AHL affiliation moved to the new Bakersfield Condors. 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. This made Khaira only the third player of Punjabis Indian descent to play in the NHL, after Robin Bawa and Manny Malhotra. 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. On December 9, he earned his first multi-goal game, scoring twice against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
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. On July 28, Khaira signed a two-year, $1.95 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. 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. He suffered a back injury nine games after returning that required season-ending surgery. Khaira finished the season with three goals in 27 games for the Blackhawks.
On September 17, 2023, Khaira signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota recalled Khaira on October 26, from the Iowa Wild.
On September 6, 2024, Khaira signed a one-year, American Hockey League contract with the Syracuse Crunch, the primary affiliate to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the 2024–25 season, Khaira added a veteran presence to the Crunch forward corps, notching 3 goals and 9 points through 18 appearances. On March 8, 2025, Khaira was traded by the Crunch to the Abbotsford Canucks in exchange for future considerations.
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.
Personal life
Khaira is a Sikh, and the third NHL player of Indian Canadians or Punjabi descent, following Robin Bawa (starting in 1989) and Manny Malhotra (starting in 1998).
Career statistics
2010–11 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 21 — 2011–12 Prince George Spruce Kings BCHL 69 2 2012–13 Michigan Tech WCHA 49 — 2013–14 Everett Silvertips WHL 59 8 2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 2 0 2014–15 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 62 4 2015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 69 — 2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 13 — 2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 31 — 2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 2 — 2017–18 Edmonton Oilers NHL 47 — 2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 43 — 2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 38 2 2020–21 Edmonton Oilers NHL 42 6 2021–22 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 13 — 2022–23 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 31 — 2023–24 Iowa Wild AHL 10 — 2023–24 Minnesota Wild NHL 0 — 2024–25 Syracuse Crunch AHL 19 — 2024–25 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 16 31
Awards and honours
Calder Cup Champion 2025
See also
External links
Categories: 1994 Births, Living People, Abbotsford Canucks Players, Bakersfield Condors Players, Canadian Expatriate Ice Hockey Players In The United States, Canadian Ice Hockey Left Wingers, Canadian People Of Punjabi Descent, Canadian Sikhs, Canadian Sportspeople Of Indian Descent, Chicago Blackhawks Players, Edmonton Oilers Draft Picks, Edmonton Oilers Players, Everett Silvertips Players, Ice Hockey People From Surrey, British Columbia, Iowa Wild Players, Michigan Tech Huskies Men's Ice Hockey Players, Minnesota Wild Players, Oklahoma City Barons Players, Prince George Spruce Kings Players, Syracuse Crunch Players, 21st-century Canadian Sportsmen
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