Khaira earns callup
By Zach Laing
7 years ago This morning, the Oilers recalled Jujhar Khaira and reassigned Anton Lander to the Bakersfield Condors.
Khaira has had a solid season so far with the Condors, posting an 8-10-18 spread in 24 games this season. Scoring .75 PPG this season, Khaira is on pace for his highest PPG pace since he scored 44 points in 59 games with the Everett Silvertips in 2013-2014.
The big bodied center played in 15 games last season, and showed very well. Using a combination of size and speed, he was an effective fourth line player and got on the scoresheet with two assists. He is still looking for his first NHL goal.
Khaira’s career path at the amateur level was odd and I’ve always wondered how much he was hurt by bouncing around so much in his formative years. He was a smart pick out of the BCHL, one of the few Oilers selections out of that league in recent years who combined good offensive production (79 points in 54 games) with legitimate upside (as an August birthday, he wasn’t even 18 when Edmonton drafted him). He didn’t get to stay there long, though, going to Michigan Tech (NCAA) the next season and then to Everett (WHL) the year after that.
What Khaira has had in his favour all down the line, though, is age. He’s only just 22 now, and a 6’3”, 214-pound 22-year-old who can anchor a scoring line in the minors is nicely on-track for an NHL career. Older prospects that can’t score have much less time to figure things out.
– Jonathan Willis, OilersNation – November 21, 2016.
The Oilers decision to send Anton Lander back to the minors is likely a wise one. Since his latest recall, Lander has played in four games where he potted one assist while averaging 6:57 TOI/Gm. Lander, who has been known for his faceoff abilities, won only 33% of the six draws he took in those games.
Lander has long been able to produce in the minors and has scored 129 points in 149 AHL games. This season alone he has scored 21 points in 13 games with the Bakersfield Condors. His inability to produce much at the NHL level means that there is a possibility that his chance with the Edmonton Oilers could be done.
Having Lander in the AHL is clearly not a bad thing as he is able to produce very well down there.
The latest from Laing:
- OilersNation: Puljujarvi records assist in first AHL game
- OilersNation: Connor McCaptain named to All-Star team
- OilersNation: Maroon named 2nd star of the week, making strong argument to be protected
- OilersNation: Oilers at the Midway Point
- OilersNation: Oilers assign Puljujarvi, waive Gustavsson
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