The Detroit Red Wings surged through the month of December, going 11-3-1 to catapult themselves to the top of the Eastern Conference. The household names of Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider all put together a great month to build on what is becoming very strong seasons for the trio, but not to be lost in it all was the return of Mason Appleton from injury.
Appleton was brought to Detroit during the offseason on Jul. 2, to a two-year $5.8 million contract after playing the majority of his previous seven years in Winnipeg. Prior to this season, Appleton had skated in 400 career games, with 351 of them coming in a Jets uniform.