The Colorado Avalanche weren’t the only club in the organization to make a playoff run this season; the Colorado Eagles also made their own push to the conference finals, and T.J. Hughes’ clutch gene and scoring ability shone throughout their success.
Hughes’ success with the Eagles has already excited pundits about how camp will go and whether he can sneak onto an Avalanche roster that seems poised to rely on more youth than in years past.
I am excited about this player, but not just because of his success
at the historic University of Michigan or the Colorado Eagles. The intangibles he seems to harness are what have me looking at him to make a statement at camp.
Hughes is no stranger to leadership roles, as he wore the C in Michigan, and he speaks and carries himself in a way that projects the personality required to thrive in high-stakes and top-level hockey.
When asked by Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff what he preferred, team success or individual statistics to validate performance, he was quick with, “I’d say overall team success.”
A good sign for a young man that has gotten used to being a top-line and power-play guy during his development.
I doubt he will be thrust into that sort of usage if he makes the big club, so it’s good to know that he is a big-picture guy.
Should mean he’s up for whatever role the Avalanche have for him.
Like the Kid
The part of his game that I’m really keen on is his work on the faceoff dot. It is one stat (along with plus/minus) that he likes to key on individually, which checks out, considering it’s a one-on-one situation.
I always say that winning or losing faceoffs doesn’t mean winning or losing the game. Still, I have come to realize that faceoffs play a huge situational role, and having the ability further down the lineup means not having to send a guy out to win a draw and then return to the bench.
“I like to be in tune with it to be sure I’m over 50 every night,” Hughes told Daily Faceoff when asked about his faceoff ability. He prefers 60 or 70% but will take a 50/50 split and points to Sidney Crosby as his inspiration for approaching the dot.
“Just the strength he has on the stick,” he continued, “I mean, Crosby is so good on it. I feel like I hold my stick similar to how he does on the draw, kinda high—higher than usual.”
Winning important draws in camp and making the right plays defensively could earn T.J. Hughes his NHL debut on opening night, and I’m here for it.
This team is desperate for a second wave of elite talent.
