It wasn’t really surprising to see top college free agent TJ Hughes pick the Colorado Avalanche over other organizations. Reports suggested the 24-year-old has several teams on his tail, trying to bring him in after his NCAA days ended.
The Avalanche didn’t really emerge as contenders to land Hughes until they did. Hughes signed and headed down to the AHL for his first taste of pro hockey.
And if there was any doubt that Hughes is a great player, well, he has two points in his first two games, including this nifty goal.
TJ HUGHES FIRST PRO GOAL! OUR MICHIGAN BOYS ARE MAKIN' SOME NOISE TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/aGVxorPekx
— x-Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) April 19, 2026
Hughes has hardly looked out of place with the Eagles. He’s looked good thus far and could be a major factor in the Eagles’ first-round series against the San Diego Gulls in the Calder Cup playoffs.
The former University of Michigan captain will be one player Avalanche fans should keep an eye on. He’ll certainly get a long look at training camp this fall.
Now, it’s unlikely he’ll make the team out of camp, especially with how deep the club is at the moment. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hughes and Gavin Brindley see regular playing time next season.
It’s worth pointing out that the Avalanche should see some roster churn sooner rather than later. Ross Colton and Nic Roy will enter the final year of their current deals. Meanwhile, Joel Kiviranta will be a UFA this summer.
So, if the organization feels that Brindley or Hughes could step in next season, they may feel confident in letting someone like Kiviranta walk in free agency or potentially trade Colton.
At this point, the organization isn’t really thinking about those long-term moves. The club is focused on getting through the meat grinder of the NHL and AHL playoffs and then sorting out the roster situations during the summer.
But it’s still an encouraging situation to see a young player like Hughes make an immediate impact on the team. The Avalanche will be challenged to find more players like Hughes in order to continue replenishing its prospect pipeline.
Add us as a preferred source on Google