This suggestion that Little has somehow fallen off a cliff in like 3 months is completely asinine.
He is definitely not playing up to snuff. But neither are Laine or Ehlers. They are all performing under expectations but when the rest of the lines are performing above expectation there is no need to change anything. You don't change your lineup when 3 of 4 lines are gelling and one isn't. You change the lineup when it's the opposite.