Mason Appleton was born on January 15th, 1996 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. He is a forward who primarily plays right-wing and has spent his NHL playing career with the Winnipeg Jets on two separate occasions and the Seattle Kraken. Listed as 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, Appleton shoots right-handed.
He spent his early playing career going through the minor hockey ranks to get to high school hockey. He played for Ashwaubenon High School and Notre Dame Academy. He helped the Notre Dame Titans win their first state championship when Mason scored the game-winning goal. He had a dominant senior season when he was selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 17 Camp.
Committing to Michigan State, Drafted 168th Overall by the Winnipeg Jets
In Appleton’s draft-eligible season (2014-15), he played for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL) where he posted 40 points (12G, 28A) and 84 PIMs in 54 games. He wouldn’t hear his name called on day one of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and would wait till the middle of the sixth round to finally hear his name be called.
The Winnipeg Jets drafted Mason Appleton with their sixth-round, 168th overall draft selection. He was already committed to play a season of college hockey with the Michigan State University Spartans in the Big 10 conference. This proved crucial for Appleton’s development as he finished two seasons with the Spartans with 53 points (17G, 36A) in 72 games.
After spending two seasons with the Spartans, Appleton left to pursue his professional hockey career. On July 13th, 2017, he signed a three-year entry-level contract (ELC) with the Winnipeg Jets. He would wait a full season before finally getting a shot in the NHL, but his debut season with the Jets’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose was one to remember.
Appleton posted 66 points (22G, 44A) in 76 games with the Manitoba Moose in the 2017-18 season. His impressive numbers helped him earn honours for the AHL All-Rookie Team, the AHL First All-Star Team and the AHL Rookie of the Year. Appleton’s season with the Moose saw him set franchise records for most assists and points by a Manitoba Moose rookie.
He found himself invited again to participate in the Jets’ 2018-19 training camp and later made his NHL debut on December 1st, 2018 against the New Jersey Devils. During the game, he recorded his first career NHL assist and point in the third period. He waited until December 20th to score his first NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks.
Selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft, Traded Back to Winnipeg
After Appleton’s ELC expired, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets. However, in year two of this contract extension, Appleton would play the first part of the season with the Seattle Kraken.
On July 21st, 2021, Mason Appleton was selected from the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken. Appleton had a 49-game run where he posted 17 points (6G, 11A) with the Kraken, but just one day before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, he found himself back with the team that drafted him.
On March 20th, 2022, Mason Appleton was traded back to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round draft pick. This showcased the loyalty the Winnipeg Jets have for their draft picks as Appleton returned to Winnipeg for his second run with the team.
He signed a three-year contract extension on August 7th, 2022 and has showcased significant development in the previous two seasons. In his 2023-24 season, Appleton posted career-high numbers in goals (14), assists (22), points (36), PIMs (26), plus-minus (plus-16), and games played (82).
Appleton is entering the final year of his three-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1st, 2025 should the Winnipeg Jets not extend him before free agency.
