MVP candidate Jack Hughes out long term

This just in, New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes will be out of the team's lineup week to week as he recovers from an upper body injury.

From Devils insider James Nichols:

Hughes has been absolutely electric for the Devils this season and has established himself as one of the best offensive players in the entire NHL. He has a remarkable 35 goals and 67 points in just 50 games, signaling his arrival as a star player to the rest of the league. The former 1st overall pick (2019 NHL Entry Draft) has been the Devils' best player and is the biggest reason why the team is back in the race for a playoff position.

Depending on how long Hughes is out of the lineup, the Devils may be forced to hire some mercenary help from the trade market. The Devils have already been linked to Chicago Blackhawks legends Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as to San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier. It'll be interesting to see if Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald accelerates his plan or goes over the top to acquire an impact player now that Hughes is out of the picture for the time being. Any way you slice it though, it'll be difficult for the Devils to replace Hughes. If the team starts to slide in the standings, I could see a major play being made for the likes of someone like Meier. Stay tuned.