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Player Report Card - #16 Jujhar Khaira |
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FINAL GRADE - DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS
Thanks for reading.
Alright fine.
Khaira has had exactly one "alright" season in his NHL career thus far, a year where he scored 11 goals and 21 points through 69 games. That year he also shot at a 15.1% rate, something he hasn't come close to replicating so it is safe to say that it was a one off.
The six goals that Khaira scored this season at a 8.7% rate is much more likely as to what we could expect from this player moving forward... if he actually has any sort of future with the Edmonton Oilers. He is signed by the team for one more season at 1.2 million.
Obviously Jujhar is not a player that I am wild about, nor have I been since prior to this season. The reason is simple; Khaira plays far too many inconsistent and unimpactful games to deserve full-time NHL duty.
Each year without fail, Khaira is able to string together a solid week or two of NHL hockey. Sometimes that is when he has been slotted up the lineup next to skill guys like RNH, while other times it is playing tough minutes in a bottom six role.
This season, Khaira's good hockey came between November 16th and December 4th. During those two weeks, Khaira went 5-0-5 in 7 games. His season total so far is 6-4-10 through 64 games so simple math shows he scored half of his points this season in a two week stretch. His last goal came on December 4th and he did not find the back of the net in the 36 games he played after.
The continuously decreasing fans of Jujhar Khaira point out his skill-set, he is tough to play against, is strong on the puck, kills penalties, and isn't too slow.
Those are all technically correct statements.
Khaira is a player who can be tough to play against, is occasionally strong on the puck, and when he is engaged in the play he can move his feet well. Really the only area Khaira is consistent on his his penalty killing, and even then he averages less minutes than Sheahan, Archibald, and RNH for the forwards.
On most teams, Khaira is a 13th forward. A guy that can slot in for the occasional game but is not someone you ever want to feel comfortable in the lineup. Despite playing games in 5 different NHL seasons, playing a total of 218 games, Khaira has yet to prove he is anything more than a fringe NHLer..... and even then I would take a guy like Cooper Marody, Tyler Benson, or almost anyone else from the Condors in place of Khaira, because at least those guys will play hungry and try to stay in the lineup as long as possible.
Looking at 5 on 5 numbers of all Oilers players who played at least 400 minutes, Khaira has a team worst GF% of 30.61%. That is worse than Sheahan, Neal, and even worse than Patrick Russell. When Khaira is on the ice, chances are high the puck is going in the Oilers net as opposed to the opponents.
This summer, fall (whenever the off-season actually begins) there might be a market for Khaira. GM's value guys who they believe to be tough, bottom six role guys and Khaira might be able to fool a few different teams in the league that he is that guy.
Overall I was greatly impressed with how Tippett coached the team this season but Khaira is one of two players who were given far too much leash. With over 200 games under his belt this is a player who should be performing in his role every night..... not every few months.
FINAL GRADE - DOES NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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