Jujhar Khaira To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

The Department of Player Safety has some work to do today, after announcing they will have a hearing with Edmonton Oilers forward Jujhar Khaira today. Khaira cross-checked St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn in the face after the two had collided and Dunn had delivered a cross-check of his own. For his actions, which appeared to hit Khaira in the shoulder first, Dunn has received a $1,942.20 fine— the maximum allowable under the CBA—but will avoid suspension.

Khaira has established himself as a relatively effective physical bottom-six presence this season, recording 13 points in 33 games. Despite only two of those points being goals, the total actually puts him (amazingly) fifth among all Edmonton forwards in scoring on the season. He’s done that despite averaging fewer than 10 minutes of even-strength ice time per game, and seeing virtually no powerplay time. While he doesn’t project as a big-time scoring threat, that kind of production will be missed on a team that still struggles to find any consistent secondary scoring.

Since the hearing is not of the in-person variety, Khaira will receive a suspension of fewer than five games if at all. It seems likely that he could get one or two given the violent nature of the cross-check, though nothing is certain until the hearing is over.