The 26-year-old forward was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday. He had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 68 games for the Jets and Seattle Kraken last season, including four points (two goals, two assists) in 19 games with Winnipeg after he was acquired in a trade March 20.
Appleton was selected by the Kraken from the Jets in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.
Selected by Winnipeg in the sixth round (No. 168) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Appleton has 64 points (28 goals, 36 assists) in 206 regular-season games for the Jets and Kraken and three points (one goal, two assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Winnipeg (39-32-11) missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, finishing sixth in the Central Division and eight points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card from the Western Conference last season. Rick Bowness was named coach July 3, and goalie David Rittich signed a one-year contract July 13 to back up Connor Hellebuyck.
Paul Stastny
remains an unrestricted free agent after the forward had 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 71 games last season.
