Jets shut down Little for rest of season

Bryan Little's season is over before it even really started.

The Winnipeg Jets forward will not return this year after taking a slap shot to the ear from his own teammate back in November, head coach Paul Maurice said Saturday, according to The Athletic's Ken Wiebe.

Little will undergo surgery to repair the perforated eardrum and then begin a three-month recovery, Maurice added.

The 32-year-old required 25-30 stitches to close the laceration. He's also suffered from vertigo due to the incident.

Little finishes his season with five points in seven contests. He missed the first nine games of the year due to a concussion from a separate incident.