Illegal Curve Hockey

Categories: Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets trade Bryan Little’s contract and rights to 2018 3rd rounder Nathan Smith to Arizona Coyotes

Photo Credit: Colby Spence

An unexpected move this trade deadline day for the Jets. As broken by Kevin Weeks of ESPN/NHL Network the Jets are trading Bryan Little‘s contract to the Arizona Coyotes. Little is on LTIR and while he is signed for a two more seasons with a cap hit of 5.291 million he is not expected to ever play again.

Little has been a heart and soul player in addition to being a top producer since the team moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg. He finishes in the combined Thrashers/Jets history books as:

1st in games played (843)
4th in goals scored (217)
3rd in assists (304)
4th in points (521)

As part of the price the Jets also sent the rights to 2018 3rd rounder Nathan Smith according to Darren Dreger of TSN who adds that Smith was not going to sign with Winnipeg. Smith was the second highest scorer in college hockey this season. Dreger reporting that the Jets get back a 2022 4th rounder in the trade.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.