The Colorado Avalanche already have their headliners. Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Gabriel Landeskog give the club plenty of punch at the top, but the area that still leaves room for growth is the bottom six.
That’s where T.J. Hughes comes into the picture.
Hughes signed with Colorado in April on an entry-level contract, and there’s a real path for him to push beyond being just another name in the system. He only appeared in two games for the AHL club, but he made those count with a goal and an assist. Then came the postseason, where he logged 17 games and piled up four goals and 10 assists.
For a first run through AHL playoff hockey, that’s a strong showing.
Before turning pro, Hughes spent four seasons at the University of Michigan. He got his college career rolling in 2022-23 as a 21-year-old, playing 39 games and putting up 13 goals and 23 assists. His best year came in 2025-26, when he skated in 40 games and finished with 22 goals and 35 assists.
That kind of production points to a player who knows how to find the scoresheet. If that translates to the NHL, Colorado may have found a useful long-term piece.
The Avalanche also benefited from the fact that Hughes was available when they moved on him. Other teams were interested around the same time, including the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, but he chose Colorado and went back to Michigan to raise his stock. That decision seems to have worked out.
He may not be on the path to a top-six role, but even a chance in the bottom six would matter. The opening of camp will tell part of the story, and the trade of Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators only adds to the opportunity in front of him. Even if Hughes doesn’t win a spot for Game 1, it would be surprising if he isn’t in an Avalanche sweater not long after.
In Other News...
Avalanche Cannot Afford To Let Cale Makar's Extension Drag Out
The Avalanche have a major contract decision looming with Cale Makar, and the timing may matter as much as the money. Colorado is weighing whether to get an extension done before Sept. 16, when the NHLs new collective bargaining agreement takes effect and changes the rules for re-signing your own players. Under the new system, the maximum term drops from eight years to seven, which could reshape both the structure and overall value of a deal for one of the leagues premier defensemen.
Makars camp also has reason to think short term could be appealing, since a shorter bridge would leave open the chance to cash in again as the salary cap rises in future years. From the Avalanches side, there is a strong argument for getting ahead of that and locking in a longer commitment now, especially with projections showing the club could have plenty of room later if it needs to pay a premium. The longer this drags out, the more Colorado risks finding itself negotiating under a less favorable set of rules. [Read more 🡒]