Little declares he’s ready for action
Forward bouncing back after season-opening injury
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/11/2016 (3230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The last time Bryan Little played a full game for the Winnipeg Jets, Donald Trump still had four rivals in the race to be the Republican nominee for president.
Suffice to say, Little’s comeback from injury has been a long, torturous road.
On Monday, the veteran centre practised without restrictions at MTS Centre and pronounced himself ready to play Tuesday when the Jets host the New Jersey Devils (TSN3, TSN1290).
“If it was up to me, yes,” said Little, who has missed 23 games since suffering a lower-body injury in Winnipeg’s regular-season opener.
“I feel pretty good. It was kinda my plan today to see if everything went well today. I feel comfortable playing.
“I can’t really test it much more other than if I get back into a game and see how it goes… As of now, I haven’t had any hiccups in the last couple of weeks.”
Before his most recent injury, Little missed the final 25 games of 2015-16 with a fractured vertebrae in his back. At the time, he was Winnipeg’s No. 1 centre. In his absence, he has been supplanted in that role by rising star Mark Scheifele.
“(If) he comes back to the rink tomorrow feeling as strong as he did today, there’s a good chance he’ll be in the lineup,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said.
“He’s played two-and-a-half minutes in the last seven, eight months. So his first game (he) may not be first star. It’s going to take him a little while to get in the rhythm.”
Long-time teammate Blake Wheeler is thrilled to have Little back.
“It’s great getting him out there,” said Wheeler, who worked out on a line with Little and right-winger Drew Stafford in Monday’s practice.
“Just for what he is in our room. He obviously creates a big hole when he’s not in your lineup. He pretty much plays every facet of the game. He and I have had some good moments together…
“To have him and (Scheifele) kinda 1A and 1B, it makes us a lot tougher team to play against.”
Maurice likened Little’s return to the arrival of an impact player in a mid-season trade. Wheeler, meanwhile, said he will do what he can to ease Little’s adjustment to game action.
How quickly will Little regain his old form?
“We’ll find out. You know, I talked to him a little bit on the ice,” said Wheeler.
“(I said) let me go get the pucks on the forecheck, let me do the dirty work… You’re right, he hasn’t played a lot of hockey. It’s going to take some time to regain his footing out there but hopefully Staffs and I can help him regain some confidence pretty quick.”
Twitter: @sawa14
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Updated on Monday, November 28, 2016 7:04 PM CST: edited, updated