{
  "id": 15126822,
  "title": "10 Takeaways: Bednar’s Belief and Patience in T.J. Hughes Pays Off (+)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/10-takeaways-bednars-belief-and-patience-in-t-j-hughes-pays-off",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T05:06:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/10-takeaways-bednar-belief-patience-050618044.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "1. Jared Bednar, the Avalanche's forward, played a crucial role in Hughes' first NHL goal. Despite the narrative that Bednar was reluctant to develop younger players, he remained patient with Hughes, allowing the young player to earn his goal through good habits and opportunities. Bednar expressed his belief in Hughes' potential long-term contributions to the team.\n\n2. Hughes' first career NHL goal was significant, as he scored it while his former college team, the Michigan Wolverines, played against the same team that ended his college career, the Denver Pioneers. Bednar praised Hughes' improvement, noting that he has become a better player, even if the progress is not always noticeable daily.\n\n3. Hughes scored the fourth goal in a 5-2 win for the Avalanche, coming just seconds after the penalty box exit of Ben Kindel. While not a power-play goal, it was a close call, demonstrating Hughes' value to the team. The senior forward's goal raised questions about his role on the power play unit, but Bednar emphasized that the coach would have full freedom to utilize Hughes on PP1.\n\n4. Colorado Avalanche's offense was solid in the second win of the season, bouncing back from a poor first period. Nathan MacKinnon's goal in the third period helped break a 1-for-4 power play drought, showcasing his ability to score on the man advantage. The team finished with 5-on-4 goal from the top unit, highlighting the effectiveness of their scoring strategy.\n\n5. The Avalanche's power play performance was notable, with a strong pace and early work from players that led to quality scoring opportunities. Bednar praised the team's decision-making and overall performance, setting a positive tone for the upcoming games.\n\n6. Artturi Lehkonen has quickly become an essential part of the Avalanche's lineup, contributing six goals in just nine games. At 32 years old, the forward remains a valuable asset to the team and a key component on the top line alongside Martin Necas and MacKinnon. However, his contract situation remains uncertain, with questions about his future value and potential trade value as the Avs balance paying their veterans and acquiring younger talent.",
  "summary": "Congratulations are in order for Colorado Avalanche forward T.J. Hughes. The 24-year-old scored his first career NHL goal, and it […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}