T.J. Hughes goes pro; Michigan captain signs deal with Colorado
Michigan hockey captain T. J. Hughes signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
A PTO will send him to the AHL the rest of this season.
Las Vegas — An incredible journey for Michigan hockey captain T. J. Hughes has led him all the way to an NHL contract.
Hughes, 24, signed a one-year contract with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, with a professional tryout agreement sending him to the AHL's Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the season. Hughes was one of the top undrafted free agents on the market after finishing his senior season with a career-high 57 points and 22 goals in a season that ended Thursday in the Frozen Four. The Hamilton, Ontario-born Hughes was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award but finished behind Red Wings draft pick Max Plante, who won the award as college hockey's top men's player Friday.
Hughes was named a first-team All-American in the west. More: Red Wings prospect Max Plante voted Hobey Baker winner as top NCAA player In 156 career games, Hughes put up 179 points to rank 19th among all Michigan players in the program's 104-year history. His 110 assists rank 14th, the most since T.