Avalanche Sign Hughes to Entry-Level Contract
4/11/2026 5:44:00 PM | Ice Hockey
DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche announced on Saturday (April 11) the signing of University of Michigan ice hockey senior T.J. Hughes to a one-year entry-level contract (ELC) for the 2026-27 season.
He will join the Colorado Eagles on an AHL Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The one-year ELC carries a $952.5K cap hit. The deal includes an $850K NHL salary, a $102.5K signing bonus, and a $72.5K games played bonus.
One of the most sought-after free agents, Hughes was a Hobey Baker finalist, a first-team All-America selection, and the Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior. He finished second nationally in scoring with 57 points in 40 games, averaging 1.43 points per game. During the season, he had a 10-game point streak, netting four game-winning goals and five power-play goals while winning 57.5 percent of his draws. As captain of the Wolverines, Hughes led the team to a Big Ten Tournament championship and a Frozen Four appearance.
In his four-year career, Hughes played in 156 games and collected 179 points to finish 20th all-time in scoring at Michigan. Additionally, he holds the Big Ten record for most points in conference games. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Hughes helped Michigan to three Big Ten Tournament titles and three Frozen Four appearances (2023, 2024, 2026).
