Rucchin’s Return Displaces Aalto

Center Antti Aalto was placed on waivers and assigned to Cincinnati of the American Hockey League, clearing the way for the Ducks to activate Steve Rucchin from the injured reserve list later this week.

Rucchin participated in some drills during Sunday’s practice and hopes to play as soon as Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, the fourth game on the team’s five-game East Coast trip.

“I’m very encouraged,” said Rucchin, who broke a bone in his left hand Sept. 22. “I’m going to be jumping into a full-contact practice later this week and we’ll see how it goes.”

Aalto took the news of his demotion hard, according to fellow Finn Teemu Selanne. “I told him just to relax,” Selanne said. “He was thinking about all his options.”

One option involved returning to play in Finland, but Selanne cautioned Aalto to accept the demotion, work hard and earn his way back to the Ducks.

“I told him, ‘Calm down and don’t say anything,’ ” Selanne said.

The Ducks needed to make a move in order to clear a spot on their 23-man roster for Rucchin, who centers the Selanne-Paul Kariya line. Aalto, scoreless in four games this season, was the obvious choice to go to the minors.

Coach Craig Hartsburg said Jonas Ronnqvist was fit to play tonight against the New York Rangers after missing two games because of a strained right knee. Ronnqvist will move from left wing to center tonight.

“I’ve played center all my life,” said Ronnqvist, 27, the Ducks’ fourth-round draft pick. “I’ve only played one season on a wing, two years ago, and that was not a very good season for me.”

Ronnqvist rebounded last season to score 15 goals in 49 games for Lulea HF, his Swedish club team.

TONIGHT

at New York Rangers, 4 PDT

* Site--Madison Square Garden.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 1-2-0-1, Rangers 2-1.

* Record vs. Rangers (1999-2000)--0-1.

* Update--Dominic Roussel will start in goal tonight for the Ducks. Guy Hebert will play Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Jaromir Jagr torched the Rangers for a career-best four goals in Pittsburgh’s 8-6 victory Saturday.