Oilers linked to signing new college free agent centreman
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
According to a recent report, the Edmonton Oilers could be targeting University of Michigan star center T.J. Hughes.
Oilers linked to elite forward out of University of Michigan
The posting came after Oilers' top-Insider Bob Stauffer alluded to as much in an in-game interview of the Oilers' game versus the Senators.
Hughes is in his fourth and final NCAA year with the University of Michigan Wolverines, where he's performed at an elite level. Last year he recorded 15G and 23A in 36 games played, while in 2023-24 he scored 19G and 19A in 41 games.
The talented scoring-center has received interest from NHL clubs, but prefers to focus on his continued development instead, according to the The Michigan Daily, choosing to return to the NCAA as a senior.
«I think it was best for me to come back another year and to graduate, and just have another year to get better. Talking to the coaches and what we're building here got me so excited, and it's hard to leave a place like this, honestly. It's the best university in the world, and it just goes by so fast. So I want another year, and I wanted a kick at a national championship.»
It seems the Oilers could have a player committed to excellence and winning, who is focussed on the progression and development of his game.
In an edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, draft expert Steven Ellis joined Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk to talk about undrafted free agent Hughes.
T.J. Hughes out of the University of Michigan. This guy was one that I think a lot of people expected to be one of the top free agents last year with Hughes, he's been very productive at Michigan. He's been doing it at a time where he wasn't playing with Adam Fantilli. He doesn't have Kent Johnson or those guys to kind of rely on, like some other Michigan players last couple years. He's had to go out there and do a lot of the work. Very good in the power play, very good in open space. I have to imagine, there's a lot of teams excited about him.
It looks like the Oilers could have a keeper.
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