Tomas Hertl could miss month with knee injury; NHL rookie race shaken up?

San Jose Sharks rookie sensation Tomas Hertl was injured in that knee-on-knee collision with Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. Just how injured?

Czech journalist Roman Jedlicka reports that Hertl will miss one month with his injury, and that Hertl offered the information to his father. But Bob McKenzie of TSN hears the recovery time could be longer than that, which obviously puts Hertl’s place on the Czech Olympic team in Sochi at risk.

For the Sharks, the loss of Hertl is the loss of a player with 25 points in 35 games, skating 15:19 per game and contributing to the second power play until. He’s cooled off from his torrid start, with two points in his last six games, but he’s still been one of their most dynamic offensive catalysts.

The other issue with Hertl hurt: The Calder Trophy picture.

The rookie points race at the moment:

The door is open for Nathan MacKinnon, who will have a mountain of hype bestowed upon him should he take over the points lead.

But another name to watch is Valeri Nichushkin of the Dallas Stars, who has really started figuring out the NHL in the last month. His ice time is rising as his productivity is: 10 points in 9 games.