The Winnipeg Jets signed center Bryan Little to a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $5.291 million on Thursday.

The new deal will begin in 2018-19 as Little plays out his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $4.7 million this season.

Little, 29, was originally drafted 12th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers at the 2006 NHL Draft and is entering his 11th season with the club.

Last season, he was limited to 59 games, but still registered 21 goals and 26 assists for a point-per-game average of 0.8 - a single-season career high. It was the fourth straight season he reached at least 40 points for the Jets and the fifth time in his career that he eclipsed the 20-goal mark.

His new AAV will maintain his status as the team's third-highest-paid forward behind Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, according to Cap Friendly.

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