Red Wings will require depth players to step up amidst plaguing injury of bottom-six forward

With bottom-six forward Mason Appleton out of the Detroit Red Wings lineup, the team will need a next-man-up mentality. That means, they will have to come to rely upon players like James Van Riemsdyk, Marco Kasper, and other players like Patrick Kane to step up and be productive again.

According to head coach Todd McLellan, Appleton will be out of the lineup Appleton will be out of the lineup with a lower-body injury with no general timeline for his return to the original six franchises' lineup.

What this does is it throws a stick in the wheels of the team's defensive wheels as they will be out one bottom-six, defensive forward.

With that revelation, not only will the team have to pick up the pace on the offense, but it will also have to be solid on the defensive side of the puck too.

Forward Mason Appleton's production this season hasn't been solely focused on offense production.

In 29 games this year, he's scored a total of 9 points (3-6) and has played up and down the lineup as a placeholder for forward Patrick Kane, who was out on injury earlier in the season.

Despite his lack of finishing ability, the depth forward is on pace for a 25-35 point year. He's been a successful free agent signing by Steve Yzerman.

For Patrick Kane, JVR, and other forwards in the lineup, they shouldn't find it an issue to produce at the level of a bottom-six forward.

Because Kane is one of the best American-born forwards of all time.

Appleton once carved himself out a niche role with the Winnipeg Jets on their bottom-six forwards alongside Adam Lowry and Nino Neiderreiter.

He's also been a reliable producer during the playoffs for the Jets, where he scored 7 points (7 A) in 13 games with the team during their last playoff run.