T.J. Hughes is getting the call for opening night, and he’ll do it in a prominent spot.
After turning heads at training camp and throughout the preseason, the undrafted free agent the Avalanche signed in April is set to make his NHL debut Wednesday when Colorado opens its 2026-27 regular season at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Hughes is also slated to skate on the Avalanche’s top power-play unit with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas and Cale Makar.
That’s a major jump, but Hughes has been climbing quickly ever since he joined the organization. Before turning pro, he put together a standout four-year run at the University of Michigan, where he finished third in program history in points with 179 and assists with 110, and fourth in goals with 69. His senior season was his best yet: 57 points, including 22 goals and 35 assists, in 40 games, along with Big Ten Conference Player of the Year honors and a trip to the Frozen Four with the Wolverines.
Hughes then began his pro career with the Colorado Eagles in April 2026 and wasted little time making an impression. He had two points, one goal and one assist, in two regular-season games before adding 14 points, four goals and 10 assists, in 17 playoff games as the Eagles pushed all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
A strong preseason, highlighted by a hat trick, helped lock in his spot on the opening-night roster. Hughes said the first people he told were his parents, and they’ll be in the building Wednesday.
“It was great,” Hughes said about the call. “I was really excited to tell them, and they're going to be able to make it tomorrow, which is very exciting. They were very excited.”
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Hughes separated himself with his hockey sense and passing ability, and he praised the way the rookie kept pushing during camp.
“He’s been an active participant in his own development,” Bednar said.
For his part, Hughes said being around Colorado’s veterans has been a big part of his growth.
“I think when you surround yourself with the best, and guys who show up to the rink every day and want to get better, even though they're some of the best players in the world, that's when I can learn the most,” Hughes said. “And that's when I can pick these guys' brains and be on the ice with them and practice with them.
I mean, you're practicing with some of the best players, and you're getting to learn from them. You just see what they do to have success, and see their habits, see their routines and that's my favorite part of it so far, just surrounding myself with some of the best and being able to learn off them and play with them.”
Landeskog, one of those veterans, said Hughes has taken full advantage of the opportunity and made a strong first impression.
“Those are guys that are easy to root for,” Landeskog said. “And [he] just wants to learn, wants to get better and we're just we're just lucky and happy to have him.”
Now Hughes has earned his place on the roster. On Wednesday, he gets his first shot to show it in an NHL regular-season game.
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