The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Seven writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2026. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.
Name: TJ Hughes
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Age: 24
Position: Center/Left Wing
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185 lbs
Likely 2026-27 Team: Colorado Avalanche (NHL)/Colorado Eagles (AHL)
2025 Rank: N/A
Final Rank: #6
High Rank: #3 (Brennan)
Low Rank: #35 (Jess)
2025-26 Statistics:
University of Michigan – 40GP 22G 35A 57P
Colorado Eagles (AHL) – 2 GP 1G, 1A, 2P (Playoffs: 17 GP, 4G 10A, 14P)
Coming in at number six on the Colorado Avalanche Top 25 Under 25 is T.J. Hughes. He is one of the most surprising college free agent pickups since Sam Malinski. The Hobey Baker finalist just finished four years at the University of Michigan, where he played alongside Gavin Brindley. Hughes (no relation to those Hughes brothers) went through his college years undrafted. He helped lead the Wolverines to the Frozen Four tournament in three of four years, but never won the national title. Last season, Hughes and the Wolverines suffered a devastating double overtime loss to the University of Denver in the semifinals. DU went onto to beat the University of Wisconsin for the National Championship.
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During Hughes’ time in the NCAA, he played 156 games and tallied 179 points (69g/110a). The 24-year-old captained the Wolverines in his senior year while putting up career-high collegiate numbers. His 22 goals and 35 assists led the team in route to the tournament at the end of the year. On top of being a Hobey Baker finalist, Hughes was a Big 10 first -team All-Star, Player of the Year, and an All-American.
Two days after his collegiate career ended, Hughes signed an AHL contract to finish the season with the Colorado Eagles. On top of that, he signed an entry-level contract starting in the fall of 2026. His jump to the Eagles was an easy one. It took only one game for him to get his first multi-point effort, where he hooked up with Brindley on a goal and an assist. During the playoffs, Hughes was a clutch player, playing top-line minutes and on the power play as well. In 17 contests, he racked up four goals and 10 assists.
Hughes will be a valuable addition to the Eagles and the Avalanche this coming season. His high hockey IQ combined with his natural skill makes him a threat all over the ice. When Hughes does not have the puck, he naturally goes to the open spots in the slot or in front of the crease. Best of all, the Canadian thrives under pressure. He excels when the other players crack. Hughes will stand a very good chance of making his NHL debut this season if there is an injury on the fourth-line for the Avs, but he won’t give that spot back easily.
2026 Top 25 Under 25
#25 Nikita Novosyolov
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#24 Axel Eloffson
#23 Teddy Lechner
#22 Ivan Yunin
#21 Louka Cloutier
#20 Matthew DiMarsico
#19 Shawn Carrier
#18 Domenick Fensore
#17 Tory Pitner
#16 Jake Fisher
#15 Beckett Hamilton
#14 Linus Funck
#13 Alex Gagne
#12 Egor Shilov
#11 Zach L’Heureux
#10 Fabian Lysell
#9 Sean Behrens
#8 Nikita Prishchepov
#7 Francesco Dell’Elce
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