Chicago Blackhawks sign former Edmonton Oilers Jujhar Khaira

Jujhar Khaira has found a new home.

After not being issued a qualifying offer from the Edmonton Oilers ahead of free agency, Khaira hit free agency.

Now, he’s signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks with an AAV of $975,000.

Khaira was drafted by the Oilers in the third round 2012 draft and broke barriers by entering the NHL as the third Punjabi player to play in the NHL.

He took the long development road playing in the BCHL, NCAA, and AHL all before breaking in as an NHL regular in 2016. Over the last six seasons, Khaira appeared in 258 NHL games scoring 24 goals and 63 points and held his own as a tough fourth-liner who was one of the best penalty-killing forwards in the league.

However, he was owed a qualifying offer of $1.3-million and it was too rich for the Oilers blood.

Khaira was a fan-favorite in Edmonton, and I loved what he brought to the table with the team.