The Colorado Avalanche have locked up highly touted college forward T.J. Hughes with a one-year NHL entry-level contract, according to multiple sources. The deal, set to begin in the 2026-27 season, includes a $952.5K cap hit and a $1.025M average annual value. Hughes, a Hobey Baker finalist during his tenure at the University of Michigan, will earn $850K in NHL salary, with $102.5K in signing bonus and $72.5K in games played incentives.
Hearing Hamilton's TJ Hughes, a Hobey Baker finalist who played at Michigan, will be signing with the Colorado Avalanche., Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 11, 2026
Hughes had drawn interest from multiple NHL teams, including the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. The Toronto Maple Leafs were also reportedly in the mix, though Colorado ultimately secured his signature. The 21-year-old forward had a breakout season in 2025-26, posting 28 goals and 51 points in 40 games for the Wolverines.
The Avalanche’s decision to sign Hughes comes with a challenge: center depth. Colorado already has Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Nazem Kadri, Nicolas Roy, Brock Nelson, and Jack Drury on the roster. However, joining a Presidents’ Trophy-winning team with a track record of developing young talent may have swayed Hughes’ decision.
From a cap perspective, the deal is manageable for the Avs. With a $85K minimum in the contract, the team retains flexibility while giving Hughes a clear path to the NHL. The structure also rewards him as he plays more games, incentivizing a quick jump to the big league.
For Hughes, the move gives him a chance to learn from some of the best players in the league. For Colorado, it adds a high-character, high-skill center prospect who could eventually slot into the top six. The Oilers and Canadiens lose out on a potential long-term piece, though both teams have their own depth and draft capital to work with.
Hughes is expected to report to training camp in July and will compete for a roster spot in the fall. The 2026-27 season will determine whether the Avalanche’s gamble on college talent pays off.
The San Antonio Spurs edged the Dallas Mavericks 114-109 on Friday night, but the story was not the win. It was Victor Wembanyama’s 40-point, 13-rebound performance in just 26 minutes, a calculated move to reach the 65-game threshold required for regular-season award eligibility.
13 hours agoThe Greensboro Swarm captured their first G League championship in franchise history by sweeping the Stockton Kings in the best-of-three G League Finals. Forward Tosan Evbuomwan was named Finals MVP after scoring 22 points in the decisive Game 2. The Swarm finished the season with a 33-15 record, th
13 hours ago
The New York Knicks clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday but lost key forward OG Anunoby to a left ankle injury in the process. Anunoby exited the game in the second quarter after rolling his ankle on a collision with Raptors guard Scottie B
13 hours ago
The Miami Heat have officially converted guard Jahmir Young’s two-way contract into a two-year standard NBA deal, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN. The move comes after the team waived Terry Rozier earlier Friday to create the necessary roster spot. Young’s new contract includes a non-guaranteed
17 hours ago