The Detroit Red Wings will be without a key veteran presence when they take the ice against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed Monday that forward Mason Appleton will miss the upcoming matchup due to an undisclosed injury. While McLellan didn’t go into detail about the nature of the injury or exactly when it occurred, the signs were there-Appleton was absent from practice, and his ice time in the Red Wings’ most recent game raised some eyebrows.
In Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins, Appleton logged just 8:07 of ice time over 12 shifts. His last appearance came late in the second period, and he didn’t see the ice again in the third or overtime. For a player who’s been a regular fixture in the lineup, that was a notable absence-and now we know why.
Appleton has been a steady contributor for Detroit this season, playing in all 26 games before the injury. He’s chipped in three goals and six assists for nine points, carving out a reliable role in the bottom six. While he’s not the flashiest name on the roster, his combination of experience, defensive responsibility, and occasional offensive pop has made him a valuable piece of the Red Wings’ depth.
With Appleton out, the Red Wings will need to adjust their fourth line. Expect either Jonatan Berggren or James van Riemsdyk to slot into that spot against Boston. Berggren brings some offensive upside and creativity, while van Riemsdyk offers veteran savvy and net-front presence-two very different looks depending on what McLellan wants from that line.
Appleton, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, signed a two-year deal with Detroit on July 2, carrying a $2.9 million AAV through the 2026-27 season. He arrived in Hockeytown after three full seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, the team that drafted him in the sixth round back in 2015.
His best year came in 2023-24, when he posted a career-high 36 points over a full 82-game slate. Last season, he saw a dip in production with 22 points in 71 games, but still contributed three assists during the Jets’ playoff run to the second round.
For now, the Red Wings will have to navigate a tough Bruins matchup without Appleton’s steady presence. It’s a small shakeup, but in a league where every shift matters, even a fourth-line change can ripple through a lineup.