Thanks a lot Oilers Chick, it'll be interesting to see what he's capable of when he starts getting thicker and stronger. The beauty of the NCAA system is that you have more time to develop a player and they have more time to get into the weight room. Thanks as always for sharing your wealth of NCAA knowledge with us
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You asked about Jujhar Khaira on the NCAA prospects stats thread, so I'll answer it here since he's obviously an Oilers prospect.
Yes, I have seen him play already. The thing that has most impressed me about Khaira (BTW, his name is pronounced "Care- uh") is the fact that he plays with a great deal of calmness (for a lack of a better term). He doesn't seem to get too high or too low. Another thing that's impressed me about Khaira thus far is how well he forechecks. Even with his lack of strength, he's able to use his size quite effectively in that regard. For you and anyone else here who may not know, Michigan Tech is a tight-checking, puck-pressuring team. They have been for quite sometime and it's something that head coach Mel Pearson really stresses to his players. Khaira has obviously gotten the memo on that one.
Khaira is a big kid at about 6'3", but it's really obvious that he still needs to add size and strength. He's a very good skater with long, smooth strides. He's shown great poise and patience with the puck and usually makes the right decisions with the puck. He keeps his game relatively simple (very common for freshmen) and I haven't really seen an glaring mistakes that he's made. Khaira has shown that he can make good passes. He's good along the boards and in the corners, but his lack of strength allows him to be moved off the puck rather easily. He's not a physical player (read that tough guy-type), but he will deliver hits when necessary, but again, his lack of strength doesn't make him very effective in that area yet.
Khaira is still adjusting to the speed and skill of the college game, but he's looked good in the early going. That said, he is still a bit of a project, but with continued development and physical maturity, Khaira could potentially have a legit shot with the Oilers down the road.
I hope this helps and answers your question.
Nice read, this kid really intrigues me; what are you guys seeing with Morroz
Funny that you mention Khaira needing to add strength. I don't disagree (especially having never seen him play) since most, if not all, 18 year olds do, but he tested near the top of every strength test at the combine. Of course, that doesn't mean he's at the level of the players he's going up against every night, but it's encouraging to know that he's already ahead of the curve when it comes to other players his age.
Thanks for the info Oilers Chick. Khaira is by far the most intriguing Oiler prospect to me because I know so little about him and the measurables seem like a good fit. The fact that he was so underscouted leading up to the draft always makes you hopefull that a gem may have slipped through the cracks.
If i recall properly, he was a midget just a few years back and had a huge growth spurt in the last year or two into the height he is at today - seems he hasn't caught up physically yet, but given several years in college hopefully that gives him the time to increase his strength to catch up with his size and benefit his overall game.
Corey Pronman @coreypronman
FYI on Oilers prospect RT @farwell590: Update on Rieder: blocked a shot with his ankle on the PK, on crutches now, x-rays tomorrow morning.
Corey Pronman @coreypronman
FYI on Oilers prospect RT @farwell590: Update on Rieder: blocked a shot with his ankle on the PK, on crutches now, x-rays tomorrow morning.
Khaira with another goal and assist tonight, bringing him up to 3-7-10 in 13 games.
Quite impressive output from an 18-year old in the best division in the NCAA. He's got an impressive group of forwards for support out there, but the future looks bright for someone who even right now is quite raw and has miles to go in terms of development.
Hopefully after his 3rd or 4th year he's ready to take the next step up to some AHL/NHL time. Would like to see him approach point/game production by the end of this year. Would put him in the same league as guys like JVR, Backes, and Booth.
Khaira with another goal and assist tonight, bringing him up to 3-7-10 in 13 games.
I just noticed that his linemates Alex Petan and Blake Pietila are a freshman and an sophmore respectively. That is a very inexperienced line to be leading a team in a tough conference. Petan and Khaira could be together for four years.
Petan is a little guy who is also from the BCHL. He is a couple of years older than Khaira. Pietila was a 5th round pick of NJD. He is an American kid from the USNDT.
Tuohimaa in goal for Jokerit after minor injury layoff. Jokerit lost 3-4 to Ässät in Pori after shootout (no surprises there). Let in one softie, unfortunately that was the tying 3-3 goal in the 3rd. He had 21 saves, his colleague at the other end had 50(!) saves.
Highlights:
Jokerit have 4 games next week so he should get at least one game there.
Quite impressive output from an 18-year old in the best division in the NCAA. He's got an impressive group of forwards for support out there, but the future looks bright for someone who even right now is quite raw and has miles to go in terms of development.
Hopefully after his 3rd or 4th year he's ready to take the next step up to some AHL/NHL time. Would like to see him approach point/game production by the end of this year. Would put him in the same league as guys like JVR, Backes, and Booth.
A guy like Nick Bjugstad had 20 points in 29 games his freshman year, Stepan had 33 in 40. To expect such a project to be achieving point-per-game totals is a little bit of a high expectations.
The ECHL on Wednesday announced that Stockton’s Kristians Pelss has been suspended for 21 games and fined an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #230, Bakersfield at Stockton, on Dec.1.
In the first period of the game, Pelss delivered a two-handed, forceful slash, behind the play, to the face of an unsuspecting opponent, causing an injury. He is fined and suspended under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline.
The ECHL on Wednesday announced that Stockton’s Kristians Pelss has been suspended for 21 games and fined an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #230, Bakersfield at Stockton, on Dec.1.
In the first period of the game, Pelss delivered a two-handed, forceful slash, behind the play, to the face of an unsuspecting opponent, causing an injury. He is fined and suspended under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline.
The ECHL on Wednesday announced that Stockton’s Kristians Pelss has been suspended for 21 games and fined an undisclosed amount as a result of his actions in ECHL Game #230, Bakersfield at Stockton, on Dec.1.
In the first period of the game, Pelss delivered a two-handed, forceful slash, behind the play, to the face of an unsuspecting opponent, causing an injury. He is fined and suspended under Rule #28 – Supplementary Discipline.
Wow, not sure what to even say. I mean there is two sides to every story, but there isn't much that can make this okay.
Now, my question becomes if you are suspended in the ECHL can you play in the AHL?
