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The Winnipeg Jets Recall F Mason Appleton From AHL Manitoba

By Kyle McCarthy

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 09: Manitoba Moose center Mason Appleton (27) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Manitoba Moose and Cleveland Monsters on February 9, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Manitoba defeated Cleveland 4-2. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 09: Manitoba Moose center Mason Appleton (27) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Manitoba Moose and Cleveland Monsters on February 9, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Manitoba defeated Cleveland 4-2. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets lost their best forward prospect to the KHL a short time ago. So they called up their second-best.

The Winnipeg Jets recalled F Mason Appleton from AHL Manitoba. Appleton, 22, will make his NHL debut if he gets out onto the ice with the Jets.

Which, you know, I would hope they would do. No point in calling him up to let him waste away on the pine. Appleton’s had AHL seasoning, though, as he lead the Manitoba Moose in points last season (22G, 44A, 66P, 76GP).

Appleton also won the AHL’s best rookie award and was an All-Star. The Jets drafted him in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, as he played on some terrible Michigan State teams.

He did get into four games this preseason, and didn’t register a point. There is, however, a decent bit to like about him offensively. We know he can shoot a bit and he’s a solid passer.

But I didn’t see a whole lot from him in camp, so it’s hard for me to evaluate him. I know he doesn’t have the best wheels but he’s got decent size at 6’2, 201lbs.

They don’t have faceoff stats for the AHL, but the AHL website doesn’t list him as a C, but other outlets did. I imagine he’ll play either on the bottom six moving forward.

Brendan Lemieux scored a goal the other night, but he literally slapped it in off the goal line when it was headed in already, so, I’m not holding out hope for an offensive breakthrough.

And his heavy game has come with more penalties and headache than it has effectiveness. Leave it to Adam Lowry and Dustin Byfuglien, and even Blake Wheeler.

Lemieux is a grinder, through and through, but I’ve seen too much of him already this year. I’d be okay with giving Appleton some minutes. We’ll see. Andrew Copp‘s concussion cost him last game, and it seems unlikely the Jets will have him for Tuesday’s match against Pittsburgh.

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Appleton’s just a little insurance policy. It’d be nice to see him make his NHL debut. For what it’s worth, he was again leading the Moose in points this season with 18 (8G, 10A) in 19 games at the time of the call-up.

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