Jets Center Bryan Little Out Indefintely

Winnipeg Jets center Bryan Little will be out indefinitely, the team announced via Twitter.  He suffered a lower body injury on Thursday night against Carolina in the first period after just 2:48 of ice time.  He did manage to record an assist and a shot on goal in that little playing time.  No timetable has been provided for his return but it is believed to be a longer-term issue.  Ken Wiebe on the Winnipeg Sun reports that the team should know more about his status in a couple of weeks (Twitter link).

The injury occurred on a collision with Hurricanes winger Bryan Bickell.  After struggling to stand up, Little fell back to the ice before getting up again, limping straight towards the dressing room.

Little has had very little luck with injuries lately.  Last season, he missed the final 25 games of the year due to a neck injury and Thursday’s outing was his first regular season action in more than seven months.

The 28 year old is expected to be one of the Jets’ top two centers this season alongside fellow Barrie Colts (OHL) alumnus Mark Scheifele.  Last season, Little had 17 goals and 25 assists in 57 games and has averaged at least 0.7 points per game in each of the last three years.

Forward Alexander Burmistrov (coincidentally, another Colts alumnus) will likely take Little’s spot in the lineup, Wiebe notes in a separate tweet.  He adds that the team is expected to recall someone from their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.