On April 11, the Colorado Avalanche signed the undrafted and highly touted NCAA free agent prospect, T.J. Hughes. The youngster is already being put to the test by the coaching staff, seeing top-six minutes. He’s receiving power-play opportunities from the start.
Upon reaching Colorado, Hughes had limited time, two days, to adjust himself to his new environment. He got some practice with the Colorado Eagles, and the next thing he knew, it was game time.
“The first couple of shifts [I spent getting
comfortable] for sure,” said Hughes. “Just trying, my first pro game was trying to get comfortable, and my line mates did a great job trying to talk to me and keep me in the loop with what we’re trying to do. But yeah, I just thought as the game went on, I felt more comfortable, felt more confident with the puck, and started making some plays.”
And Hughes has gotten more comfortable with the puck. It took him only four periods to earn himself a power-play point off a Jacob MacDonald goal.
The next period, it took only 14 seconds for Hughes and former Michigan teammate Gavin Brindley to hook up on his first professional goal.
TJ HUGHES FIRST PRO GOAL! OUR MICHIGAN BOYS ARE MAKIN' SOME NOISE TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/aGVxorPekx
— x-Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 19, 2026
Eagles’ coaches even trusted Hughes in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. He got put in the lineup over veterans like Mark Senden and Valtteri Puustinen. Senden played in every game of the playoffs last year for the Eagles while Puustinen has 10 games of playoff experience with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (PIT).
The bet paid off, though. Hughes collected an assist for the Eagles in Game One against the San Diego Gulls (ANA). Colorado would shutout the Gulls 3–0 in what would be Trent Miner’s first Calder Cup shutout. Hughes has brought some quick feet, a high hockey IQ, fantastic vision, and talented hands with him to Colorado. He has already displayed it in a couple of plays and left me in shock at how he has rolled out of a corner so easily.
Fans should have a lot to be excited about with the 24-year-old Hobey Baker finalist and should look forward to a call-up, or more, to the Colorado Avalanche next season.
