He already has local ties to the Mitten State, and he's returned - this time, as a seasoned NHL veteran. The Detroit Red Wings signed former Michigan State Spartans forward Mason Appleton, who had previously played for the Winnipeg Jets and the Seattle Kraken, to a two-year, $2.9 million contract on the opening day of free agency. “Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said via the Red Wings official website [https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/a-team-and-city-that-i-believe-in-appleton-excited-after-inking-two-year-free-agent-deal-with-red-wings]. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there. You just have to get your foot in the door and then anything can happen. It’s a team and city that I believe in, and I’m super excited to get things rocking there.” Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/] team site to stay connected to the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/game-day]coverage, and player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/players]. Originally hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is a little over two hours away from Detroit by flight, the decision was an easy one for Appleton and his family. "I thought Detroit was a great fit for me on the ice. And then off the ice, it made a lot of sense too with my wife and I being from Wisconsin, it’s a lot closer than some other teams," he said. "It just seemed like the right fit. Free Agency kicks off, it’s a stressful time, and things happen that you wouldn’t expect but at the end of the day we were very happy to end up in Detroit." Appleton, who was selected with the 168th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Jets, played 72 games for the Spartans between 2015 and 2017, scoring a total of 17 goals with 36 assists. His 22 points in his first season in East Lansing led all rookies, and he was recognized with the Most Outstanding Rookie Award. Appleton was even named team captain of the Spartans for the 2017-18 season, but he would depart the University to begin his professional career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets. He would split his first two seasons in Winnipeg between the Jets and the Manitoba Moose, their American Hockey League affiliate. Appleton then played in a career-high 56 games in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals with 13 assists. But he would be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and played in 49 games with the new club before ultimately being traded back to the Jets at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. He's played exactly 400 games in the NHL, scoring 57 goals with 81 assists. He also has a goal with 11 assists in 32 postseason games, including seven assists in the 2025 playoffs as the Jets advanced to the Western Conference Semi Final. Now, Appleton is turning his focus on playing a role in bringing playoff hockey back to Detroit. “Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there." Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwnuDfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] favorites!
