How has the NHL rookie race been affected with Connor Bedard out with jaw injury?

No rookie has passed Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard in scoring since he was injured early this month, and now one of his closest pursuers, Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, is out with an injury.

Bedard suffered a fractured jaw on Jan. 5 against the New Jersey Devils. He was skating between two New Jersey players midway through the first period when 6-foot-2 Devils defenseman Brendan Smith checked the 5-10 center. The team announced on Jan. 10 that that he had surgery and would be out six to eight weeks.

The injury has cost him the chance to be the youngest player in the NHL All-Star Game.

How has the Bedard injury timeline affects the NHL rookie race:

How does the Connor Bedard injury affect the rookie race?

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, like Bedard a generational prospect and No. 1 overall pick, was limited to 45 games as a rookie in 2015-16 because of a broken clavicle and finished third in the Calder Trophy voting behind Artemi Panarin and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Bedard still leads rookies in the scoring race with 15 goals and 33 points. He already has missed 11 games. The 6-8 week timeframe means he would miss 17 to 24 games. Assuming he misses the full 24 games and is healthy the rest of the season, he'd end up playing 58 games.

Here are some players who could pass Bedard in the rookie race:

Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild: The defenseman is averaging nearly 25 minutes a game, kills penalties, blocks shots and has 29 points in 48 games. He has 25 assists to Bedard's 18 and had a recent six-game point streak. He will continue to get key minutes with Jared Spurgeon out for the season.

Marco Rossi, Minnesota Wild: The forward is two goals and five points behind Bedard. He has 16 points in his last 28 games while playing in a top six role.

Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils: The defenseman is averaging more than 20 minutes a game as the Devils deal with an injury to Dougie Hamilton. He's seven points behind Bedard and like Bedard, he has had some highlight-reel plays.

Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets: The 2023 No. 3 overall draft pick filled in as Columbus' top center in the absence of captain Boone Jenner and had 13 points in 14 games in December. Fantilli remained in a top six role after Jenner's return but now is dealing with his own injury issue. He was cut in the left leg by a skate blade on Sunday while checking a Seattle Kraken player, and the team announced he would be out eight weeks.

Logan Cooley, Arizona Coyotes: The No. 3 overall pick of the 2022 draft is eight points behind Bedard after putting together a four-game point streak.

Where does Connor Bedard stand in his recovery?

He took to the ice after a Jan. 15 practice, wearing a face shield and a no-contact jersey.

"He’s been begging," Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson told reporters then. "I think they said it was OK, but he’s been getting specific instructions. He’s not allowed to take slapshots, so he’s not allowed to really clench (his jaw) right now."

Bedard continues to go on the ice after the practice, but the timeline hasn't changed, Richardson told reporters last week.

"He's no-contact," he said. "He's still not where he's supposed to be to take hard slapshots. ... He can't be maxing out on weights and really stressing the facial muscles."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL rookie race: How it shapes up after Connor Bedard jaw surgery