Detroit Red Wings · Center · Shoots R

Mason Appleton

Age 30 · 6'2" · 193 lb · Born in Green Bay, USA

Cap hit

$2.9M

2.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2025-26 regular season

Goals

9.5% shooting

Assists

5 primary

Points

0.22 per game

TOI/GP

13:31

PP 0:04 · PK 1:15

xGF%

39.8

5v5, -9.3 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.07

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

6 W · 16 L

Plus/minus

-4

Blocks 29 · Hits 89

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 2 @ PHI · W 4-2	0	0	2	0	17:13	0:00	0:29	—	0	0	0	-0.22
Mar 31 @ PIT · L 5-1	0	1	4	1	16:33	0:00	2:11	—	33	0	-1	-0.39
Mar 28 vs PHI · L 5-3	1	1	4	0	10:24	0:00	0:00	1-2	0	1	+1	+0.70
Mar 27 @ BUF · W 5-2	0	0	0	0	8:15	0:00	0:21	—	0	0	-1	-0.40
Mar 24 vs OTT · L 3-2	0	1	1	0	11:16	0:00	0:00	—	0	0	0	-0.21

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 766 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%39.8%

5th percentile

Relative xGF%-9.7

5th percentile

HDCF%34.7%

3rd percentile

CF%47.0%

28th percentile

Relative CF%-2.8

26th percentile

FF%46.2%

20th percentile

GF%44.0%

30th percentile

CF/6052.2

27th percentile

CA/6058.9

39th percentile

ixG/600.42

3rd percentile

Goals above expected+0.6

67th percentile

IPP54.5%

22nd percentile

PDO99.2

42nd percentile

OZS%48.3%

36th percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDepth energy forward

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Appleton is a willing forecheccker and smart puck carrier who generates chances through effort and positioning rather than dynamic skill. His lack of volume and playmaking limits his scoring potential despite solid positional play on the wing.

Defensive contributorWorkmanlikeDepth option

Shooting volume: 11
Playmaking: 20
Zone entries(est.): 64
Forechecking: 63
Physicality: 62
Defensive impact: 41
Puck management: 67
Speed: 49

Where he shoots from

Slot 40% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 32%(94 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Puck management and area control at 67th percentile drive consistent positioning
Forechecking and physicality in the 62-63 range keep him engaged without the puck
Zone entry efficiency at 64th percentile creates opportunities from transitions

Watch-outs

Shooting volume at just 11th percentile means he rarely generates his own chances
Playmaking at 20th percentile limits his ability to set up others in scoring spots
Defensive impact ranks only 41st, suggesting his contribution there doesn't offset his limited offensive creation

Similar style: Michael Rasmussen (DET), Sam Steel (DAL)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 65 GP · goals above average

Season total -4.3 goals, or -0.07 per game.

Even strength offense: -2.0
Even strength defense: -0.3
Power play: -0.1
Finishing: +0.7
Playmaking: -2.6
Penalties: +0.2
Faceoffs: -0.1

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	DET	65	6	8	14	-4	63	13:31	—	-0.07
2024-25	WPG	71	10	12	22	+7	107	14:50	—	-0.05
2023-24	WPG	82	14	22	36	+16	122	16:03	—	+0.01
2022-23	WPG	41	5	11	16	+2	71	16:01	—	-0.05

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 22.1 mph; 41st pct
20+ mph bursts: 93
Hardest shot: 81.4 mph; 28th pct
Distance: 139.6 mi
OZ time: 38.2%; 9th pct
DZ time: 44.4%