Player out for the rest of the season with broken back.

The Winnipeg Jets got some awful news on Thursday, as it appears they have lost a forward for the remainder of the season with a very serious injury.

Head coach Paul Maurice revealed Thursday that forward Bryan Little will be out for the season after suffering a compression fracture in his vertebrae.

Little was injured in a 6-5 shootout loss to Tampa Bay on Feb. 18 after taking an open-ice hit from defenceman Anton Stralman. Stralman was not disciplined for the hit.

Little, a 28-year-old Edmonton native, had been productive registering 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games this season.

He has 385 points (163-222) in 613 career NHL regular-season games.

The Jets have recalled Matt Halischuk from the AHL's Manitoba Moose in hopes of making up for the loss of Little.

This is horrible news for Little and the Jets.

We certainly wish him a full and speedy recovery.

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Coach Maurice announced Bryan Little is out for the season (compression fractured vertebrae). #NHLJets recall Halischuk from @ManitobaMoose.
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 25, 2016