The Colorado Avalanche weren't the only club in the organization to make a playoff run this season; the Colorado Eagles also made their own push to the conference finals, and T.J. Hughes' clutch gene and scoring ability shone throughout their success.
Hughes' success with the Eagles has already excited pundits about how camp will go and whether he can sneak onto an Avalanche roster that seems poised to rely on more youth than in years past.
I am excited about this player, but not just because of his success at the historic University of Michigan or the Colorado Eagles. The intangibles he seems to harness are what have me looking at him to make a statement at camp.
Hughes is no stranger to leadership roles, as he wore the C in Michigan, and he speaks and carries himself in a way that projects the personality required to thrive in high-stakes and top-level hockey.
When asked by Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff what he preferred, team success or individual statistics to validate performance, he was quick with, "I'd say overall team success."