August 26, 2026 • 6:02 AM EDT
Updated 9 days ago
The Colorado Avalanche let 22 potential points slip through their fingers last season, dropping six games in the shootout and another five in overtime. In a league where every single point matters, that is a brutal chunk of missed opportunity—one that could be the difference between home-ice advantage or battling from the wild card slot. Now, heading into a new campaign, it looks like the Avalanche might have an unlikely solution. T.J. Hughes, signed undrafted out of Michigan, is quietly making a name for himself in those high-pressure moments where the ice seems to shrink—exactly the type of scenario where Colorado routinely came up short last year.
Hughes is hardly a household name yet, and to be fair, nothing is guaranteed in September. Still, you cannot ignore a guy who put up 57 points in 40 games at Michigan and walked away with Big Ten Player of the Year and All-American honours. The kid dominated college hockey and brought a winner’s mentality to his new club. What stands out, though, is how he has taken to the ice at every optional skate, obsessed with earning every inch. He is one of those players making it impossible for Colorado’s staff to look away. According to Yahoo Sports, his puck skills and shootout performance have turned plenty of heads around the rink.
Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts. Hughes is not just showing up: he is making defenders look silly in shootout drills—quick hands, real creativity, and no fear. That is gold for a team that lost too many games in bonus time. Sure, the shootout itself is divisive, and plenty of us would rather see hockey settled five-on-five. But as long as the rules reward shootout specialists, having a guy like Hughes up your sleeve can swing close games your way. Recent drills saw him outshine even established NHLers, hinting the Avalanche could soon have a new weapon to call upon when games go beyond regulation.
- Colorado lost eleven games last season in overtime or shootout, missing out on 22 valuable points
- T.J. Hughes, an undrafted free agent from Michigan, is impressing in preseason skates
- Hughes’s shootout skills could address a critical team weakness
- His work ethic and on-ice creativity have stood out in drills
- The team has a history of giving unheralded prospects a real shot at the roster
Can T.J. Hughes Crack the NHL Lineup?
Is it a lock? Not even close. Optional skates look nothing like live fire in an NHL barn, and training camp will have plenty of guys battling for the same handful of jobs. But you want a dark horse? Hughes fits that bill—excellent vision, quick hands, and the sort of attitude that gets noticed for the right reasons. He still has to prove himself against NHL-calibre competition, but his college resume and flashes in camp have people buzzing. If he keeps up this form, Colorado’s coaches could have a very tough decision on their hands when final cuts come.
Why the Shootout Still Matters for Bettors—and the Avs
Whether you like it or not, shootouts are not going away. The numbers do not lie: teams who can find that clutch performer in the shootout grab vital extra points, which swing playoff races year after year. For bettors, a player like Hughes cracks open new angles—if he gets called up or even suits up as a healthy scratch with shootouts looming, the Avs become a tougher team to fade in those spots. Every edge counts, especially when there is a pattern of bonus-time stumbles.
What’s Next For Hughes and the Avalanche?
The stakes only get higher from here. Training camp and preseason are all about proving you can handle real NHL speed under real pressure. Hughes will need to carry his work ethic and inventiveness into those battles—rookie lessons turn into grown-man problems fast. But this club’s recent history shows they are open to giving the unheralded guy his shot. Other prospects have forced their way onto the roster; nothing says Hughes cannot be next if performance backs up the hype. Bettors and fans alike should pay attention: if Hughes makes the leap, Colorado just might fix one of last season’s most glaring weaknesses when it matters most.
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