T.J. Hughes arrives at No. 6 on the Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25 as one of the more striking college free-agent additions in recent memory. The 24-year-old center/left wing has already gone from undrafted Michigan standout to a player the Avalanche clearly have plans for, and his rise has been fast enough to turn heads.
Hughes just wrapped up four years at the University of Michigan, where he skated with Gavin Brindley and built a résumé that kept growing every season. He was a Hobey Baker finalist after a senior year in which he captained the Wolverines and posted career-best numbers: 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in 40 games. Those totals led the team and helped push Michigan back into the tournament picture.
His college career ended without the national title, though Michigan made the Frozen Four three times in four years. Last season brought a painful finish, with the Wolverines falling in double overtime to the University of Denver in the semifinals. DU then went on to beat the University of Wisconsin for the National Championship.
Over 156 NCAA games, Hughes piled up 179 points on 69 goals and 110 assists. Along the way, he collected plenty of hardware too: Big 10 first-team All-Star, Player of the Year, and All-American.
Colorado moved quickly once his college run was over. Two days after the season ended, Hughes signed an AHL contract to join the Colorado Eagles, and he also agreed to an entry-level deal that begins in the fall of 2026.
The transition was smooth. In just his second game with the Eagles, he delivered his first multi-point performance, connecting with Brindley for a goal and an assist.
He kept making an impact in the playoffs, where he played top-line minutes and worked the power play. In 17 postseason games, Hughes produced four goals and 10 assists. In two regular-season AHL games, he added one goal and one assist.
That blend of skill, feel, and poise is why he’s such an intriguing piece for both Colorado and the Eagles. Hughes has the kind of hockey IQ that shows up all over the ice, and when he’s off the puck, he finds the dangerous spaces - the slot, the crease, the places where chances turn into goals. He also has a reputation for thriving when the pressure rises and other players tighten up.
That gives him a real shot to make his NHL debut this season if an injury opens a spot on the Avalanche’s fourth line. And if he gets that opportunity, he’s not likely to hand it back easily.
In Other News...
Avalanche Fans Suddenly Have A Bigger Reason To Watch Makars Deal
Cale Makar is expected to sign a contract extension with the Avalanche, a move that would only reinforce how central he is to Colorados future. The organization has not made anything official yet, but the anticipation around a new deal has already become part of the bigger picture for a team that has been built around elite talent on the back end.
Connor Hellebuyck has also become part of the conversation after his agent publicly requested a trade from Winnipeg, and that has naturally sparked some speculation about Colorados possible interest. Nothing has been confirmed, and the idea remains conjecture, but it is the kind of twist that can quickly give Avalanche fans another reason to keep an eye on the rumor mill while they wait on Makars deal. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar And Avalanche Are Closing In On A Massive Deal
The Avalanche have made keeping Cale Makar a clear priority, and the next step appears to be a long-term extension for the star defenseman as he heads into the final season of his current contract. Makar is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July, and the deal being discussed would not even kick in until the 2027-28 season, a reminder that Colorado is planning far beyond the immediate future.
Joe Sakic said he expects the contract to be wrapped up before training camp, which would remove one of the biggest lingering questions around the roster. If the sides finish the job, Makar could land among the NHL's highest-paid players, a fitting marker for a player who has become central to everything Colorado wants to do moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Francesco DellElce Is Suddenly Worth Watching Closely
Francesco DellElce has gone from interesting depth piece to a prospect worth tracking more closely in the Avalanche pipeline. The 21-year-old defenseman at UMass landed No. 7 in Mile High Hockeys Top 25 Under 25 for the organization on Sept. 1, a recognition that reflects both his upside and the way his game fits Colorados preferences on the blue line. Drafted 77th overall in 2025 as a re-entry, DellElce has drawn notice for the skating and leadership traits that can play in an Avalanche system that values mobility and quick decision-making.
For Colorado, the intrigue is not just about where he stands now, but how quickly he could move into the picture. DellElce is viewed as a promising prospect who may be in position to sign after his junior year, which gives the Avalanche a longer runway to watch his development while keeping him on the radar as one of the more notable names in the group. If his progress at UMass keeps matching the early impressions, he could become a much bigger part of the conversation than a mid-round pick usually does. [Read more 🡒]