Jets' Bryan Little: Will take part in Thursday's preseason game

Little (back) is listed on the game-day roster for Thursday's preseason matchup with the Wild.

Analysis:

Little missed the final 25 games of the 2015-16 season with a compression fracture of his vertebrae, but was evidently able to fully recover from the injury over the offseason, and will now set his sights on shaking off any remaining rust ahead of the Jets' Oct. 13 regular-season opener against the Hurricanes. The 28-year-old forward will slot into a top-six role with Winnipeg in 2016-17, and should be able to improve upon the 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) he registered last season, barring major injury.