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NHLFeature
New Avalanche prospect T.J. Hughes adapting quickly
TL;DR
T.J. Hughes, a newly signed prospect for the Colorado Avalanche, is quickly adapting to professional play. He is receiving significant ice time and power-play opportunities in his first AHL playoff series.
Key points
- T.J. Hughes signed with the Colorado Avalanche on April 11
- He is receiving top-six minutes and power-play opportunities
- Hughes had only two days to adjust before his first game
T.J. HughesColorado Avalanche
T.J. Hughes plays in his first AHL playoff series against the San Diego Gulls. | Courtesy of Colorado Eagles
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.
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 . 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).
Q&A
How is T.J. Hughes performing in his first AHL playoff series?
T.J. Hughes is adapting well, receiving top-six minutes and power-play opportunities while gaining confidence on the ice.
What challenges did T.J. Hughes face after joining the Colorado Avalanche?
Hughes had only two days to adjust to his new environment before playing, which required him to quickly acclimate to the team's dynamics.
What is T.J. Hughes's background before joining the Avalanche?
Before signing with the Avalanche, T.J. Hughes was an undrafted NCAA free agent prospect known for his strong performance in college hockey.
