Avalanche sign T.J. Hughes to entry-level contract
Sometimes, despite the salary cap and the draft order weighted in favor of the worst teams, the rich get richer in the NHL.
On Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche announced that they have signed top college free agent T.J. Hughes to a one-year, entry-level contract.
We have signed Michigan forward TJ Hughes to a one-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season. He will join the Colorado Eagles on an AHL Professional Tryout agreement (PTO) for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The deal will kick in beginning next season, and Hughes will join the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a professional tryout agreement (PTO) for the remainder of this season. The financial details of the contract have not yet been disclosed.
Hughes, 24, was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award this season, given annually to the top NCAA men’s hockey player. Minnesota Duluth forward and Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante won the award on Friday, but Hughes was the only one of the three finalists that was an undrafted free agent, making him the most sought after college free agent on the market.
The forward from Hamilton, Ontario just put up 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points over 40 games in his senior season as the captain for the University of Michigan, leading the Wolverines to the NCAA men’s Frozen Four before losing in the semifinals to the University of Denver by a score of 4-3 in double overtime on Thursday.
Hughes was a point-per-game player throughout nearly his entire collegiate career. Last season as a junior, he notched 38 points in 36 games, and as a sophomore he had 48 points in 41 games. He fell just short of the point-per-game mark as a freshman, registering 36 points in 39 games.
Colorado had already signed Penn State forward Matt DiMarsico and Bowling Green defenseman Gustav Stjernberg as college free agents this season.
The Avalanche, who have clinched this season’s Presidents’ Trophy, will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.