Mason Appleton didn’t know how things were going to play out.
When July 1 arrived and free agency officially opened, he was left with an emotion that caught him by surprise as he was mulling over his future.
“It’s a stressful process. It’s not easy for anyone,” said Appleton, who spent the bulk of seven seasons with the Jets before inking a deal with the Detroit Red Wings this past summer. “When talks kind of heated up with Detroit, I felt like that was a fit that made a lot of sense.”
RYAN SUN / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Detroit Red Wings centre Mason Appleton (22) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Artyom Levshunov, behind, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in November in Detroit.
The transition to his new team has mostly been smooth, as Appleton has been showing the traits that made him an effective player with the Jets, often skating alongside captain Adam Lowry on a checking line that chipped in important secondary scoring.
“I knew a couple of guys on the team going into it,” said Appleton. “It’s different. You spend eight years in one spot basically and then you’ve got to find yourself a new home and integrate yourself there. It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed my time in Detroit so far. We’ve got a solid team, we’ve been winning games.”
Under head coach Todd McLellan, who took over from Derek Lalonde on Dec. 26, 2024, the Red Wings are battling for top spot in the Eastern Conference and are embroiled in a fight with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division.
“That’s how you envision it in the summer, but you never know how things are going to play out,” said Appleton. “When you sign with a new team, you know the names and faces, but you don’t really know the ins-and-outs of the team. I’ve been super impressed with how we’ve competed this year, with how we’ve played and where we find ourselves in the standings right now.”
Appleton had five goals and 11 points in 43 games after Saturday’s game with the Jets and one of his goals proved to be the game-winner against his former team in the first meeting of the season back on Dec. 31.
Did that prompt a little bit of chirping?
“That would have been a little too soon, so I did not,” said Appleton, noting he was happy to catch up with several former teammates after the game on Dec. 31 and again on Friday night before the second and final meeting of the regular season between the two teams.
Chosen by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft after a strong season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Appleton is one of the organization’s draft and development stories, a late pick that has blossomed into an everyday NHLer and closing in on a decade of service time in The Show.
That’s part of why he was feeling only fond memories when he stepped back onto the ice at Canada Life Centre.
“There were a lot of good hockey teams that we had here,” said Appleton. “It’s almost easier to remember the people and the friends and those types of things. That’s what stands out the most.
“I’m super thankful for my time here. Love the fans and love this organization.”
“To walk the halls of Little Caesars Arena and see the history and the pictures and the Stanley Cup winning teams, everything that comes with wearing the Red Wing logo. It’s pretty special”
Joining an Original Six franchise has been eye-opening.
“Very unique,” said Appleton. “Playing in Winnipeg, obviously with one franchise going and one franchise coming, it was a bit different in that sense. To walk the halls of Little Caesars Arena and see the history and the pictures and the Stanley Cup winning teams, everything that comes with wearing the Red Wing logo. It’s pretty special.”
McLellan has been impressed by how Appleton has fit in with his new club.
Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
The Warm-Up
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
“Right from the get-go, he was able to adjust after as many years as he’s spent here (in Winnipeg),” said McLellan. “Perhaps his short stint in Seattle may have helped him with the transformation. He understands the game and he’s got a pretty good checking element to the game.
“He’s been around winning teams and he has some pretty good habits and they rub off on other guys.”
Jets head coach Scott Arniel isn’t surprised to see Appleton succeed with his new team.
“He did some fantastic things for us with the Winnipeg Jets. Played a big role for us over the years,” said Arniel. “He’s doing well. You can see Todd (McLellan) is leaning on him, just like we leaned on him to play that kind of checking role and help the offence.”
winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.