Wild add Jujhar Khaira on the eve of training camp

The 29-year-old forward played the past two seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks.

September 18, 2023 at 1:23AM
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Jujhar Khaira (16) in the first period during an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Jujhar Khaira has 33 goals in 47 assists in 336 NHL games with Edmonton and Chicago. (Rick Scuteri, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Wild signed Jujhar Khaira to a two-way contract Sunday.

The 29-year-old forward played in 51 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season, scoring six goals and setting up eight others.

In 336 NHL games, the 6-4, 212-pounder has 33 goals and 47 assists. He played for Edmonton from 2015 to 2021 and Chicago the past two seasons.

Khaira, who skated for one season at Michigan Tech, played in 133 American Hockey League games after he was taken by the Oilers in the third round (60th overall) in 2012.

A native of Surrey, British Columbia, he will be the third Wild player of Punjabi descent, following Robin Bawa and Manny Malhotra, and will wear No. 16.

The Wild open training camp Wednesday at Tria Rink, with the first practices Thursday.

Wild 7, Blackhawks 4

Sammy Walker had three goals and an assist, and the Wild scored three third-period goals to beat Chicago 7-4 to end the Tom Kurvers Prospects Showcase at Tria Rink.

"It was nice to get a win," Walker said. "It was fun today."

Walker's third goal put the Wild ahead to stay at 5-4. Maxim Cajkovic and Casey Dornbach each added a goal and an assist, Louis Boudon and Rasmus Kumpulainen scored and Harrison Meneghin and Chase Coward combined to make 31 saves.

Nick Lardis scored on the Blackhawks' first shot of the game, and Ryder Rolston and Colton Dach also scored in the first period for Chicago, which did not play No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard. Rolston is the son of former Wild star Brian Rolston.

After the Wild took a 4-3 lead, Martin Misiak scored for Chicago to tie it up going into the third period.

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