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Mikko Rantanen a rising rookie

(Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Finnish forward Mikko Rantanen, who fell into the Avalanche's open arms with the No. 10 pick at the NHL draft in June, appears to have the size, skill and compete level to make his big-league debut at age 18.

That summer-long speculation will become a full-fledged science project Monday when the Avs begin a three-day rookie camp at their Centennial headquarters.

Rantanen, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, was among a handful of the 211 players in his draft class to be tendered an entry-level NHL contract, and he signed a maximum deal of $925,000 plus bonuses in July.