The Colorado Avalanche have signed Hobey Baker finalist T.J. Hughes to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2026–27 season.

Juniors and College

The 24-year-old forward measures six feet tall and weighs 185-pounds. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, he played for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits from 2019 through 2022. Current Avalanche prospect Taylor Makar was one of his teammates. Hughes scored 94 goals and 100 assists in 138 regular-season games during that time. He also added an extra 12 goals and 11 assists in the playoffs.

After leaving the Bandits, Hughes played four seasons for the Michigan Wolverines from 2022 to 2026. In that time, he amassed 69 goals and 110 assists in 156 games. He led the team in scoring in each of his last two seasons and helped guide the Wolverines to the Frozen Four in three of his four campaigns in Ann Arbor.

Hughes was named captain of the Wolverines for the 2025–26 season. He ranked second in the nation in scoring and led the Wolverines in points. He also finished second in both goals and assists and set collegiate single-season records for goals, assists, and points. In that same season, he was awarded First Team AHCA/CCM All-America honors, the Big Ten Player of the Year, earned a Big Ten First All-Star Team selection, and a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. His team was eliminated by the University of Denver in double overtime in the Frozen Four Semifinal on Thursday.

An Impressive Addition to the Avalanche System

Hughes is the third player in the current Avalanche system to be named a Hobey Baker Award “Hat Trick” Finalist. Current Colorado Eagle Jason Polin — who also played at Michigan — was a finalist in 2023. And of course, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won the award in 2019.

Hughes is a prolific point-producer who excels at finding weaknesses in defenses and creating offensive opportunities. He will join the Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the 2025–26 season on a Professional Tryout agreement (PTO). The Eagles are currently sitting in second place in the Pacific Division but have been struggling over the last couple of months, dropping games to bottom-ranked teams. Having a Hobey Baker Finalist will undoubtedly add some firepower as they head into the playoffs.