A lot has happened since we last wrote an NHL Notebook. The New Jersey Devils and GM Tom Fitzgerald parted ways. The Anaheim Ducks gave GM Pat Verbeek a multi-year extension. And the New York Islanders relieved Patrick Roy of his duties as head coach, appointing Pete DeBoer their new bench boss. But on Saturday, it was a pair of Michigan State Wolverines that made headlines.

The wait is over, and the top NCAA free agent finds a home, as TJ Hughes has signed a one-year entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.

Hughes, 24, has been playing hockey for the Wolverines at the collegiate level for the past four seasons after he was passed over in his draft years. Over that time, Hughes has been a reliable top-six centre for Michigan.

The Hamilton, Ontario, native’s first season with the Wolverines was his only campaign in which he failed to eclipse a point per game. And even then, he still had a solid freshman year, scoring 13 goals and 36 points in 39 games. Hughes followed that up with a 48-point season in 41 games in 2023-24, and 38 points in 36 games during the 2024-25 season.

The 2025-26 season was when Hughes’ trajectory changed. He was named captain following Jacob Truscott’s departure, and posted his NCAA high with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points in just 40 games. Hughes’ totals had him finishing second in NCAA scoring, trailing only Quinnipiac’s Ethan Wyttenbach by two points. His efforts earned him a nomination for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player. He lost to Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante.

Now that the Wolverines were eliminated from the Frozen Four with an overtime loss to Denver on Thursday, Hughes will now make the leap to the professional ranks, joining the Colorado Eagles on an AHL professional tryout contract for the remainder of this season. However, the same cannot be said for his Wolverine teammate.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, top Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage will forgo joining his drafted team for their 2025-26 playoff run and instead return to Michigan for the 2026-27 season.

Hage, 19, was a first-round pick (21st overall) of the Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft. In his draft season, playing with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, Hage scored 33 goals and 42 assists for 75 points in 54 games.

The 6’1″, 199-lb right-shot centre then jumped to the NCAA with the Wolverines. In his freshman season, Hage finished over a point per game, tallying 34 points in 33 games. His development took an extra step forward this season, where he scored 13 goals and 39 assists for 52 points in 39 games.

The Oakville, Ontario, native’s NCAA season was interrupted midway through when he joined Team Canada for the U20 World Juniors. Hage played a pivotal role on the Canadian Junior team, playing on the top line with Nashville Predators prospect Brady Martin and projected top-2026 NHL prospect, Gavin McKenna. Hage’s 15 points (two goals and 13 assists) led the entire tournament in scoring en route to a Bronze Medal.

With the Canadiens being one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams and still contending for the Atlantic Division title, it may have been hard for the 19-year-old to crack the roster come playoff time. He will now look to further develop in the NCAA, now being the team’s top centre option with Hughes departing for the 2026-27 season.