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T.J. Hughes goes pro; Michigan captain signs deal with Colorado
TL;DR
T.J. Hughes, the Michigan hockey captain, has signed a one-year NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche after a standout college career. He will play for the AHL's Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the season.
Las Vegas — An incredible journey for Michigan hockey captain T.J. Hughes has led him all the way to an NHL contract.
Hughes, 24, signed a one-year contract with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, with a professional tryout agreement sending him to the AHL's Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the season. Hughes was one of the top undrafted free agents on the market after finishing his senior season with a career-high 57 points and 22 goals in a season that ended Thursday in the Frozen Four.
The Hamilton, Ontario-born Hughes was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award but finished behind Red Wings draft pick Max Plante, who won the award as college hockey's top men's player Friday. Hughes was named a first-team All-American in the west.
More: Red Wings prospect Max Plante voted Hobey Baker winner as top NCAA player
In 156 career games, Hughes put up 179 points to rank 19th among all Michigan players in the program's 104-year history. His 110 assists rank 14th, the most since T.J. Hensick’s 147 from 2003 to 2007. Since 2000, only Hensick (222) and fellow Hobey Baker winner Kevin Porter (183) have scored more points than Hughes.
Michigan forward T.J. Hughes, left, and Michigan forward Adam Valentini celebrate after Hughes scored a goal during the first period of the Frozen Four semifinal between Michigan and Denver, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, April 9, 2026.
Though his skating may be below average by NHL standards, Hughes' playmaking vision made him a scoring threat the moment he stepped into the college ranks. He was virtually unknown to NHL scouts when he played for the AJHL's Brooks Bandits, but they took notice when he came in as a freshman and scored 36 points running one of the nation's top power plays that season. In 2023-24, a 48-point season earned him more NHL interest, but he turned down his suitors. He did the same last offseason to come back for his senior year.
More: Frozen Four heartbreak ends college career of Michigan's T.J. Hughes: ‘I’ll forever be blessed’
Hughes is the first Michigan player to sign a pro contract since its season ended in double overtime heartbreak at the hands of Denver. He is the seventh player from his 2022 recruiting class to go pro, joining forwards Adam Fantilli, Frank Nazar III, Rutger McGroarty, Seamus Casey, Gavin Brindley and Jackson Hallum. Hughes will reunite with Brindley in the Colorado organization, as well as former UM captain Nick Blankenburg, who predated Hughes in Ann Arbor but is also with the Avalanche.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: T.J. Hughes goes pro; Michigan hockey captain signs deal with Colorado Avalanche
Q&A
What contract did T.J. Hughes sign with the Colorado Avalanche?
T.J. Hughes signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche.
How did T.J. Hughes perform in his college hockey career?
Hughes finished his college career with 179 points in 156 games, ranking 19th in Michigan's hockey history.
Who won the Hobey Baker Award that T.J. Hughes was a finalist for?
Max Plante, a draft pick of the Red Wings, won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top men's player.
