He played in 36 NHL games in 2018-19, scored his first NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks, finishing with three goals and 10 points during his time with the Jets.
Add that to the 15 goals and 32 points he had in 40 games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose and Appleton is a confident player this September.
"I'm far more comfortable. I feel better right out of the gates. There are always those jitters a little bit, especially in your first few years," Appleton said. "Those are non-existent now. It's just hockey, having fun and enjoying training camp, learning from the process."
During line rushes today, Appleton skated with Mark Scheifele at centre and Mathieu Perreault.
"I want to see Mason play with a centre who has a tremendous amount of skill and vision and see where he's at with it," said Maurice. "There's that idea - expose all these guys to something they don't get to see a lot, so we can see where they're at in their skill development."
While the drills during Saturday's skate were familiar for Appleton, they may have been a bit less so for Gabriel Bourque.
Bourque, 28, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets on Aug. 25.
For me and my family it was a good place where the NHL and the AHL are in the same place. Then the way they play, the style of game, the older group, it was a good fit. Then the talk I had with them it was a good match and a good chance for me to come here," said Bourque, who did recognize some faces in the dressing room when he arrived.
"(Mathieu) Perreault, I know him from summer hockey. (Anthony) Bitetto, I played with in Nashville. The first time is the toughest. Now I'm used to it. Over the years, playing against them, you know who they are. It's not as hard as it is the first time."