TSN 1260’s Jason Gregor is reporting this afternoon that the Edmonton Oilers have signed pending RFA Jujhar Khaira to a two-year contract extension. The club has confirmed the news.
#Oilers have signed Jujhar Khaira to a two-year extension.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) June 16, 2017
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Khaira has taken a huge step in his development and is now a player that should be seriously considered for NHL time. If it were not for injuries this past year, you co
uld very well make the case that Khaira would have played a bigger role on this club. Now, he’ll get the chance to come to camp and earn a job with the club in a depth role this September.
Last season, Khaira scored his first NHL goal while going 1-0-1 in ten contests. Khaira also saw time in 2015-16, playing 15 games and going 0-2-2 for the club. In the AHL this past season, Khaira played 27 games and went 8-12-20. The most points he has registered in a pro season is 27, a mark he reached in Bakersfield during the 2014-15 season.
This is a player that won’t be a game-breaker, but who should be able to play at the NHL level. He’s a solid physical presence and has the ability to contribute just enough offensively that he isn’t a liability on the ice. Defensively, Khaira has shown quite well over the course of his professional career.
While no financial details were made available, it’s a pretty good assumption that Khaira will be making somewhere around $1 million per season on his new deal. If he can contribute the way I believe he can in a depth role, well he could prove to be a solid value contract for the club.
Khaira is likely to be exposed in the upcoming expansion draft, but we will find out for sure on Sunday morning. I’ll update this with more details on the signing as they become available.
UPDATE: The AAV on Khaira’s contract is $675,000 as per NBC Sports.
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