KHAIRA BACK IN BUSINESS
Oft-injured center feeling better skating, thanks to corrected movements
DETROIT — When Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira wasn’t physically able to resume playing after the Christmas break, he initially thought something in his back was just “acting up.”
But as the days turned into weeks and months, his patience and ability to psychologically handle yet another extended absence was tested again.
“It comes to a point where you have to put it behind you,” Khaira said Wednesday. “There’s really nothing you can do when you’re recovering [other than to] just set yourself up for when you get back.”
After missing five games with a concussion and then the final 43 games of last season with a back injury that required surgery, Khaira ended up missing another 26 games this season with this new back injury, which likely was connected to with the previous one but wasn’t exactly the same.
What eventually allowed him to return Feb. 27 against the Ducks were exercises and treatments that corrected his methods of movement by utilizing muscles that had been neglected, particularly around his hips.
“I don’t think it was moving properly,” he said. “I don’t know if I changed my skating stride, but it’s more [that I’m] just feeling better skating. [I have] more mobility and strength when pushing off.”
Khaira has averaged 12:58 of ice time in six games since returning. He recorded his first point since Dec. 13 with an assist Wednesday against the Red Wings, centering the fourth line with Boris Katchouk and Joey Anderson.
He has been paying very close attention to his body when on the ice. Coach Luke Richardson, meanwhile, understands why but — from afar — hasn’t seen any issues with Khaira’s movement.
Said Khaira: “The first couple [games], I didn’t have as much juice in my legs, and now it’s slowly building up. That gives you confidence and playmaking ability in tight areas. It’s always a work in progress, but it has improved.”
Said Richardson: “Sometimes you might feel it a little bit more, but [Jujhar is] a nice, fluid skater with a good stride. So, to me, he covers a lot of ground quickly with his reach. That helps out, especially on the penalty kill and in the ‘D’-zone.”
The Hawks have needed Khaira lately. With several forwards traded away and Jonathan Toews (general health), Reese Johnson (concussion), Colin Blackwell (groin) and Austin Wagner (undisclosed) out, they have only 12 healthy forwards on the roster.
That likely will remain the case for the final 18 games of the season, considering Hawks management will be more concerned about keeping Rockford’s roster well-stocked for its playoff push than bolstering the Hawks’ ragtag crew. The IceHogs have struggled somewhat the last two months and sit fourth in their division with a 27-21-8 record.
It could be a different story, however, come summer. Khaira is one of only two pending unrestricted free agents left among the forwards — Andreas Athanasiou is the other — and the odds seem low that he’ll be re-signed.
He was brought in by ex-general manager Stan Bowman in 2021 to provide grit and depth on a supposed contender. The injury woes that have limited him to 62 appearances in two seasons, his unremarkable performance — 10 points and a 45.3% five-on-five scoring-chance ratio — and the fact he’ll turn 29 in August make him a poor match for GM Kyle Davidson’s rebuild.
But he’ll have the next month to try to prove otherwise — or at least get his career back on track.
“Hopefully he stays healthy the rest of the year,” Richardson said. “I’m sure he’ll need it [in order to] mentally know he can withstand that time and that amount of games.”