Little (ear) was sent to the Coyotes from the Jets on Monday along with Nathan Smith in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round pick, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports.
Little is not expected to play again due to his ear injury and figures to spend the entire 2022-23 campaign on long-term injured reserve. Over the course of his 13-year NHL career, the Edmonton native racked up 217 goals and 304 assists in 843 games, all with the Thrashers/Jets franchise.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Not on training camp roster
Rotowire
Little (head) is not on the Jets' training camp roster.
Little last played in the 2019-20 season before suffering a head injury that has kept him off the ice ever since. At this point, it seems unlikely for the 33-year-old to get back into NHL action again. He has three more years left on his contract, and he'll likely be kept on long-term injured reserve to provide the Jets with some salary cap relief.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Next season in jeopardy
Rotowire
Little (head) was advised by doctors not to play in the upcoming 2020-21 NHL season, Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet reports.
Little took a puck to the head last November and the 32-year-old hasn't suited up since. He'll likely be shifted to the long-term injured reserve until he's able to play again, which might be at least another calendar year away.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Still working on recovery
Rotowire
Little (ear) told reporters he will need more time to fully recover, raising doubts regarding his availability for the start of the 2020-21 campaign, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
Little has been out of action since Nov. 5 versus New Jersey when he took a puck to the ear. If the Edmonton native is unable to suit up next year, the Jets could look to add some center depth during the offseason. How the club opts to address the position could also depend on whether it re-signs Cody Eakin.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Left off training camp roster
Rotowire
Little (ear) has been left off the Jets' training camp roster.
Little has seen very limited action this season while battling a concussion and an ear injury, and he'll be left off the Phase 3 Training Camp Roster ahead of the season restart. Little had two goals and three assists over seven games during the 2019-20 season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Status uncertain
Rotowire
Little (ear) remains status quo for the postseason as the team awaits more test results, Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun reports.
After missing the start of the season with a concussion, Little played in just seven games before he took a puck to the side of the head, which has sidelined him since early November. The Edmonton native was expected to miss the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign, but with the league going on hiatus, he could still be cleared in time for the Jets' play-in clash with Calgary.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Campaign finished
Rotowire
Coach Paul Maurice said Saturday that Little (ear) will be shut down for the remainder of the season, Ken Wiebe of The Athletic reports.
Little had only suited up in seven games this season while nursing the eardrum problem. Maurice confirmed that Little will undergo a surgical procedure to repair his perforated eardrum and is facing a three-month recovery period. Little finishes the season with five points in seven games and will look to get healthy for the 2020-21 season.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Still weeks away
Rotowire
Little (ear) will continue to undergo testing over the next few weeks, Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV reports.
Little has been cleared to participate in practice, albeit in a non-contact capacity, but his return to game action clearly isn't imminent. The 32-year-old pivot notched five points in seven games before being knocked out indefinitely with a perforated ear drum in early November.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Sports no-contact sweater
Rotowire
Little (ear) wore a no-contact jersey during Monday's practice, Ken Wiebe of The Athletic reports.
Little has been skating for over a week, and he's taken his next step by returning to practice, albeit in a limited capacity. The 32-year-old hasn't played since Nov. 5, and he still resides on injured reserve. It wouldn't be surprising if he returns before the All-Star break, though.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Remains out indefinitely
Rotowire
Little (ear) has begun skating but remains without a timeline to return, Ken Wiebe of The Athletic reports.
Little is not expected to join the Jets' for their upcoming four-game road trip, so it will be at least mid-January before he gets back into the lineup. Once the Edmonton native is ready to return, he could slot back into his usual second-line center spot, though coach Paul Maurice may be hesitant to move Blake Wheeler from his new position.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Sustains perforated ear drum
Rotowire
Little is suffering from vertigo as a result of a perforated ear drum, Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV reports.
While Little is expected to fully recover, the organization hasn't been able to provide a specific timeline for his recovery. The Edmonton native will, at minimum, be out through the next three outings after being placed on injured reserve. In order to fill out the second line in Little's absence, coach Paul Maurice is planning to move Blake Wheeler to center while Patrik Laine takes his spot on the top line with Mark Scheifele.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Placed on injured reserve
Rotowire
Little (head) was designated for injured reserve Thursday.
Even if the team uses a retroactive designation for Little, the news will effectively sideline him the next three games, though he could be out even longer considering he hasn't been released from the hospital yet. Little's absence will likely see Blake Wheeler move to a second-line center role while Joona Luoto gets called up from the minors.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Undergoing further evaluation
Rotowire
Little -- who was injured in Tuesday's matchup with New Jersey -- is being evaluated at a local hospital, the team announced Wednesday.
The team statement didn't provide a timeline for Little's recovery, but at this point, it seems like he is a long shot for Friday's meeting with Vancouver. In seven games this year, the center has notched two goals, three assists and 13 shots. If Little does in fact miss time, Adam Lowry would be the most likely candidate to slot into the second line.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Takes puck to head
Rotowire
Little took a puck to the head in the third period of Tuesday's game versus the Devils, Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV reports. He did not return to the game.
It was a scary scene, as Nikolaj Ehlers' shot caught Little around the ear, drawing blood. Little missed nine games at the start of the season while recovering from a concussion. The center has five points in six games this year.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Provides helper on game-winner
Rotowire
Little (undisclosed) posted an assist and two shots on goal in Friday's 3-2 win over the Sharks.
Little ultimately didn't miss a game with the injury, and he helped out on Nikolaj Ehlers' game-winning goal in the third period. His point streak is at four games (two goals, three helpers), accounting for all of his offense so far in 2019-20.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Little (undisclosed) took the ice for pregame warmups, indicating he'll be in the lineup for Friday's game against the Sharks, Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV reports.
Little ultimately won't miss any time with the injury. He is expected to center Nikolaj Ehlers and Jack Roslovic on the second line. The Jets will go with a traditional 12 forwards, six defensemen lineup, as Carl Dahlstrom will be the healthy scratch and C.J. Suess will make his NHL debut.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Game-time call
Rotowire
Little (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Friday's matchup with San Jose, Ken Wiebe of The Athletic reports.
Little was able to participate in morning skate and reportedly felt pretty good afterwards, so it's safe to assume he's closer to probable than questionable for Friday's contest. Nonetheless, confirmation on his status against the Sharks likely won't arrive until the Jets take the ice for pregame warmups.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Questionable against Sharks
Rotowire
Little is dealing with an undisclosed injury which brings his availability versus San Jose on Friday into question, Ken Wiebe of The Athletic reports.
Little's potential absence would further test the depth of a Jets forward group that will already be without Patrik Laine (lower body) and Adam Lowry (suspension). While a pair of recalls from AHL Manitoba are likely to come, the team could deploy 11 forwards and seven defensemen in order to minimize the impact of promoted players.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Two points Tuesday
Rotowire
Little scored a goal and added a helper in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Ducks.
The center had five shots on goal and a plus-2 rating. Little helped out on Nikolaj Ehlers' second tally of the game, and then scored one of his own to cut the deficit to one in the third period. Little has four points in as many games this year, playing very well while anchoring the second line since returning from a concussion.
... See More... See Less
Jets' Bryan Little: Heritage Classic OT hero
Rotowire
Little scored the game-winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Flames.
An early power play in overtime came up empty for the Jets, but Little cashed in on the momentum after a slick pass from Kyle Connor on a two-on-one. It was a great moment for Little's first goal of the year -- he's up to two points in three games after starting the year sidelined by a concussion.
