The Winnipeg Jets announced today that longtime center Bryan Little has signed a one-day contract with the team to retire a Winnipeg Jet. Little last suited up for the Jets in the 2019-20 season before being struck in the head by a puck in his seventh game on November 5th. He later had surgery to repair a perforated eardrum and would remain on long-term injured reserve.
Bryan Little played in the NHL from 2007-08 till 2019-20, all with the Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets. He’s scored 521 points (217G, 304A) and racked up 293 PIMs in 843 career NHL games. The 12th overall pick by the Thrashers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft enjoyed a successful 13-year NHL career. Little ranks second in franchise history in games (843), third in assists (304), fourth in points (521), and fifth in goals (217).
The Jets will honour Little prior to the home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 20th. Little’s six-year contract which he signed on September 14th, 2017, just expired at the end of the 2023-24 season. He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on March 21st, 2022, but never suited up for the team.
On April 18th, Little’s rights and the rest of the Arizona Coyotes’ assets were transferred to the now-Utah Hockey Club.
Outside of the NHL, Little won the 2008 Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves. Before his time in the American Hockey League, Little spent his junior hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League with the Barrie Colts. He was incredibly successful with the team where he took home many awards. Most notably the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL Rookie of the Year Award in the 2003-04 season. Internationally, Little has won a U17 World Championship Gold Medal and a U20 World Junior Championship Gold Medal representing Team Canada.
He’s appeared a few times in Winnipeg media, but the sendoff that Bryan Little will get on October 20th is fitting for the career he had with the Winnipeg Jets.
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