How the Avalanche Recruited T.J. Hughes for Nearly an Entire Season

September 11, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

For T.J. Hughes, the road to signing with the Colorado Avalanche started long before the end of his college career

While Hughes was captaining the Michigan Wolverines through a run toward the national championship last season, Colorado was already working to convince the undrafted senior forward that his future belonged with them.

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The recruiting process lasted nearly the entire season, and by the time his college career ended, Hughes already knew plenty about the organization he was joining.

“Colorado was very interested in me all year,” Hughes said Friday ahead of the Avs’ two-game rookie tournament in San Jose over the weekend. “A lot of meetings, video sessions, kind of telling me how I fit their style and how my game translates to how Colorado likes to play. Skilled game, play with the puck, play fast, play smart.”

Hughes, 24, is entering his one-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche. As a high-profile undrafted college free agent, the Hamilton, Ontario, native chose a Stanley Cup contender as his landing spot.

That’s not always the case for undrafted college free agents. And even when it is, it’s not the norm for that particular team to have an opportunity for a rookie to step into the top nine — perhaps even the top six — right away.

“It got me really interested, and the relationship we built throughout the year was very high and very good, and I felt very comfortable choosing Colorado,” Hughes continued. “They really liked me as a player, and I felt very comfortable about it.”

Two key members of the Avalanche’s front office spent a lot of time scouting Hughes. Neither was president of hockey operations Joe Sakic nor former general manager Chris MacFarland.

That’s a reminder of just how much goes on behind the scenes inside an NHL front office, particularly with an eye towards the future amid a Stanley Cup contending season.

“A little bit of [assistant general manager] Kevin McDonald, [Andrew] Cogliano, those two guys I talked to mostly,” Hughes said. “I’d say those two guys came to watch me play a lot. They broke down clips with me. Brian Willsie talked to me a lot too.”

Hughes arrived in Denver several weeks ago and has regularly taken part in captain skates leading up to the official start of training camp next week.

The Avalanche have some lineup spots up for grabs on opening night, and Hughes is one of the young forwards in the mix.

If he can get acclimated to the NHL game and impress through the rookie tournament, training camp, and preseason, he could have a legitimate chance to be in the lineup when the Avalanche open the regular season on Sept. 30 at Ball Arena.

“It’s been nice to get on [the ice] with the guys, meet all the new guys I haven’t met before, and just get a taste of Colorado,” Hughes said.

The Avalanche signed Hughes last spring, and he immediately joined the AHL’s Colorado Eagles for what eventually became a lengthy playoff run.

The experience in Loveland was long, but it served its purpose. Hughes got a taste of professional hockey almost immediately after his college career ended and had the opportunity to adjust to the Avalanche organization before returning to Colorado for the summer.

“It was a quick turnaround after playing in college. Played my first pro game like a week after that Final Four game,” Hughes said. “I really enjoyed my time with the Eagles. We had a really good run, Western Conference Finals. The team was great to me, very welcoming, and I just thought it really helped me with my experience for this year.”

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