Welcome to your NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Hockey and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the next wave of NHL prospects. Our team is comprised of Ben Kerr and Josh Cohen. Be sure to follow them on social media for all the latest on the top prospects in the game. Today we bring you, perhaps the top undrafted free agent, this is our T.J. Hughes Scouting Report.
Undrafted Senior, TJ Hughes, is leading his #1-ranked Michigan Wolverines with hopes of a National Championship and a shot at the NHL level.
The Undrafted Senior Making his Mark
The #1-ranked Michigan Wolverines are making noise in college hockey this season. They currently hold a 15-3 record and are being led by their captain, undrafted free agent TJ Hughes. Hughes is a senior centre for the Wolverines and hopes to make the jump to the professional level after this collegiate season. Hughes leads college hockey in assists this season with 17 and in total points with 23. Last season, Hughes put up 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points over 36 games played.
Hughes received an invitation to the New York Rangers development camp this past summer and the Tampa Bay Lightning the year before. He was also selected to the first-ever U.S. Collegiate Select Team, which will head to Davos, Switzerland, in December to compete in the 2025 Spengler Cup. It is the world’s oldest invitational tournament, featuring national and club teams from around the globe.
T.J. Hughes Scouting Report
Forward — Shoots Right
Born November 9th, 2001 — Hamilton, Ontario
Height 6’0 — Weight 183 lbs [ 182 cm / 83 kg]
Skating
Hughes’ skating is not the strongest part of his game and isn’t at a top-end NHL level. His skating can occasionally lead to him being caught slow getting back on defence, but that is not due to a lack of effort. His skating can still get him past defenders at the NCAA level, but we will have to see how that translates over to the faster pro game. He has a high motor and is involved all over the ice. His game in this area has improved this year, with him displaying an excellent ability to create turnovers in the neutral zone and pick up loose pucks with ease.
Despite his mechanics being a bit weaker, he makes up for it with his hockey IQ and playmaking ability. He navigates tight spaces and open ice in the offensive zone really well without the puck, constantly looking for soft spots to get open, and will frequently look to move the puck again once received to keep defences on their heels.
Offensive Game
As we continue T.J. Hughes scouting report, we can say he is a solid two-way forward with his offensive style leaning towards a pass-first mentality, constantly looking for opportunities to set his teammates up for goals. He has great hands and a solid wrist shot that he uses to bury quick chances, especially in tight. His vision and ability to slow the game down in front of him have led him to be one of the best setup men in college hockey, sending him to the top of the NCAA assists leaderboard. He’s a great feeder from anywhere in the zone and is not afraid to try to make plays from the wall.
Defensive Game
Hughes is a great two-way forward and shines without the puck. His defensive game has improved each year, and he has a natural ability to turn good defence into offensive opportunities. He’s not afraid to use his body and lay a hit when needed. He plays a physical game overall and is a hard, aggressive forechecker. He’s made a solid commitment to playing good defence, which in turn will lead him to have opportunities to crack an NHL lineup in the future. He also plays on the penalty killing unit for the Wolverines, a role he could continue in at the next level.
Projection
He has middle-to-bottom-six forward potential. His defensive game, forechecking ability, and high motor will serve well in a bottom-six role, but if he continues to develop his offensive game, he could move higher in an NHL lineup. Now more than ever, NHL teams are looking to be strong down the middle on all four lines. Having Hughes at a 3C or 4C role would make sense for a lot of teams next season who are struggling to find depth at center. The Spengler Cup and a potential deep run in the NCAA postseason will be great opportunities for him to showcase his talents to NHL scouting departments.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of T.J. Hughes that are available on YouTube.
Main Photo Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
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