HIGHLIGHTS
- Colorado signed Michigan captain T.J. Hughes to a one-year entry-level deal for 2026-27
- Hughes posted 57 points in 40 games and was a Hobey Baker finalist
- Read below for the contract details, why he won’t play in the NHL this season, and how he fits in Colorado
The Colorado Avalanche landed the top college free agent on the market.
Michigan captain T.J. Hughes signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche for the 2026-27 season. He’ll report to the Colorado Eagles on an AHL professional tryout for the rest of this year.
Hughes, 24, just wrapped up a four-year career at Michigan that ended with a 4-3 double overtime loss to Denver in the Frozen Four. He had 57 points in 40 games this season, finishing second in the country in scoring. He was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, losing out to Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante on Friday night.
Unlike Plante, Hughes was never drafted. That made him the most coveted unsigned college free agent available, and multiple teams came calling. The Maple Leafs were heavily linked to him for weeks. He picked Colorado instead.
The Hamilton, Ontario native leaves Ann Arbor as the third-leading scorer in Michigan history with 179 points in 156 games. He’s also the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer in conference play with 108 points, holding the assist record at 64.
He won’t suit up for the Avalanche this season. Because he signed after the trade deadline, he can’t go on an NHL contract and then be sent to the AHL. If he had signed an NHL deal, he would’ve been stuck on the roster. The AHL route made more sense for a team that already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy and doesn’t have obvious lineup openings.
The Eagles finished second in the AHL’s Pacific Division and open their Calder Cup playoffs soon. Hughes gives them a serious boost for that run.
Before Michigan, Hughes played three seasons with the Brooks Bandits in the AJHL, putting up 194 points in 138 games. He won the league’s Forward of the Year award in 2022.
At 24, he’s older than your typical entry-level signing. But he’s also more polished. He’ll compete for an NHL roster spot next fall, likely pushing guys like Ross Colton, Nic Roy, or Jack Drury for ice time.
Hughes is the third college free agent Colorado has signed this spring, joining Penn State forward Matt DiMarsico and Bowling Green defenseman Gustav Stjernberg. The Avalanche keep stacking depth heading into the playoffs.
