Right wing Mikko Rantanen, who was recalled Monday night from San Antonio of the AHL, practiced Tuesday on a line with Mikhail Grigorenko and Nathan MacKinnon, a unit that will make its debut Friday when the Avalanche play Winnipeg at the Pepsi Center,

With Rantanen back from the Rampage, coach Jared Bednar has moved Matt Duchene back to center on a line with Gabriel Landeskog and Jarome Iginla.

Rantanen, the Avalanche's first-round pick (No. 10) in the 2015 NHL draft, had two assists in four games for the Rampage (0-4-0). He missed all six preseason games to recover from an ankle injury. He'll have three practice days and Friday's morning skate to prepare for the game against the Jets.

“It’s nice to have him back,” Bednar said. “He had a great season last season, a good rookie camp before he got hurt. Unfortunately, he got set back a little. We feel that it’s important for him to get up to speed on as much of that stuff as he can going into the weekend."

"I'm good to go," the 6-feet-4, 210-pound Rantanen said. "Just getting back in shape and getting the game feeling back ... you have to work on the little things when you're out five weeks without playing. I feel so good now."

Rantanen, who will turn 20 on Saturday, was the AHL co-Rookie of the Year last season after he had 24 goals and 36 assists in 52 games with the Rampage. He didn't have a point in nine games with the Avalanche while being used mostly on the fourth line under coach Patrick Roy.

Rantanen, who is from Nousiainen, Finland, said it was helpful to log quality minutes in the AHL, enabling him to adjust to playing on the smaller North American rinks.

"It's a lot different when we play in Europe, like I'm used to," he said. "It helped me a lot. This year it's a lot easier to come here and play."

Rantanen is looking forward to skating on a line with Grigorenko and MacKinnon.

"Two terrific players there," he said. "MacKinnon is a great center, strong and quick, and Grigo is offensive-minded, too, so it's a good place for me. (The Avalanche) want offense and I'm ready for it, so now I just have to show what I can do."

John Mitchell practiced again after missing the first five games because of a hip injury. Defenseman Fedor Tyutin (groin injury) didn't practice.

Bednar was disappointed to lose Ben Smith to Toronto on waivers, but said he's happy that Smith landed a job in the NHL. The Avalanche waived Smith to open a roster spot for Rantanen, hoping to assign Smith to San Antonio.

Line combinations Tuesday:

Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Jarome Iginla
Mikhail Grigorenko -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Rene Bourque -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Andreas Martinsen -- John Mitchell -- Joe Colborne



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