Red Wings sign Mason Appleton, re-sign Soderblom for depth roles

The Detroit Red Wings have signed winger Mason Appleton to a two-year contract worth $2.9 million annually, aiming to add size and depth to their bottom-six forward group. Appleton, 29, has spent most of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, where he played a defensive role and contributed modest offense, scoring 10 goals and 22 points last season. While he is praised for his defensive abilities and versatility, some analysts question the value of the contract given Appleton's limited offensive production and the Red Wings' existing depth of similar players. Alongside Appleton, Detroit has also re-signed restricted free agents Elmer Soderblom, Jonatan Berggren, and defenseman Albert Johansson, while adding James van Riemsdyk to bolster the bottom six. The Red Wings still seek a top-six winger and a top-four defenseman to improve their roster and end a nine-year playoff drought. Appleton's signing reflects GM Steve Yzerman's strategy of acquiring reliable, hardworking players who can contribute defensively and provide secondary offense.