Winnipeg Jets Lose Forward to American Team in Free Agency

For the second time in his career, Mason Appleton is leaving Winnipeg, this time to the Detroit Red Wings, as they have signed him to a two-year deal.

The first time he left was via expansion when Seattle plucked him off the roster back in 2021-22. The 2015 6th rounder of the Jets later returned to Winnipeg that season as the organization traded for him at the deadline.

He subsequently signed a three-year deal as an RFA back in 2022. Appleton was a staple of the third line alongside captain Adam Lowry and winger Nino Niederreiter during his time with the Jets.

When the Jets' season heartbreakingly ended in May, Appleton expressed a willingness to stick around, but clearly that didn't come to fruition. Instead, he will be heading to Detroit for the next two years, where he will be paid $2.9 million a year.

Making the NHL as a sixth-rounder is no easy feat, but you have to credit Appleton for putting in the hard work.

Following his time at Michigan State, he went down to the Moose of the AHL and grinded hard, which later led to him being named the AHL's outstanding rookie for 2017-18, when he won the Dudley Garrett Award.

After half a season with Manitoba, he jumped back to the NHL and pretty much never looked back. In total, he's played in 400 NHL games and definitely left his mark in Winnipeg.