Undrafted Avalanche Rookie Hughes Scores First Career NHL Goal
T.J. Hughes scored his first NHL goal in his eighth game, tapping in a Nathan MacKinnon pass during Colorado's 5-2 win over Pittsburgh. The undrafted 24-year-old played four seasons at Michigan before signing a one-year entry-level contract and briefly appearing in the AHL. Colorado overcame a 2-0 deficit, with Artturi Lehkonen scoring twice and MacKinnon adding a goal and three assists.
Hughes reached the NHL through an unusual route. After going unselected in the draft, he spent four years at Michigan; his last campaign produced 22 goals, 35 assists, 57 points in 40 appearances. Colorado signed him to a one-year entry-level deal in April, then he had a brief AHL tryout with the Eagles, recording a goal and assist in two games.
Before Friday, Hughes had one assist and two penalty minutes through seven NHL games. His first goal came in his eighth, at 14:57 of the second, finishing MacKinnon’s centering feed to make it 4-2. Teammates Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog celebrated with him.
Stories like Hughes’s could offer encouragement to undrafted or college players who may see alternative routes to professional hockey. Fans and youth athletes may find added interest in late-blooming prospects, while the Avalanche could benefit from broader attention and lineup competition. It may also remind teams that older NCAA free agents can contribute, though one goal alone does not define a career.