Hughes, Rangers agree to contract terms

Press Release

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Tommy Hughes.

Undrafted free agent Tommy Hughes was part of a London team that swept its first-round playoff series vs. Saginaw last week. Hughes has spent three full seasons with the Knights, his hometown team. (London Knights photo)

Hughes, 20, registered one goal and 15 assists for 16 points, along with 66 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 67 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season. He established career-highs in games played, assists, points, and penalty minutes.

He tied for sixth on the team in penalty minutes and eighth in plus/minus rating. He posted three multi-point performances, including two multi-assist efforts and his first career multi-point game on September 23 at Guelph (one goal, one assist). He also recorded seven assists in a 12-game span from February 2 at Oshawa to March 3 against Kitchener.

Hughes is currently tied for seventh on the team in the playoffs with a plus-four rating following London’s first round sweep (4-0) of Saginaw. He has tallied one assist through four post-season games.

The 6-2, 215-pounder has skated in 169 career regular season contests over four seasons with London (OHL), registering three goals and 29 assists for 32 points, along with 169 penalty minutes and a plus-55 rating. He established career-highs in goals (two) and plus/minus rating (plus-30) during the 2011-12 season. His plus-30 rating ranked second on London that season.

Hughes has also registered one goal and four assists for five points, along with 34 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating in 29 career playoff contests with London.

The London, Ontario native recorded his first career point with an assist on December 9, 2010, against Guelph. He made his OHL debut on January 21, 2010, against Kitchener.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)