The Colorado Avalanche have activated star center Nathan MacKinnon off injured reserve ahead of Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

MacKinnon has not played since Dec. 5 because of an upper-body injury that forced him out of a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He was placed on IR the following day.

The Avalanche said at the time that MacKinnon would miss about four weeks.

The Maple Leafs acquired Dryden Hunt from the Colorado Avalanche for fellow forward Denis Malgin on Monday.

Hunt has put up 14 goals and 42 points in 193 regular-season games in parts of six NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers and Avalanche.

He has two goals in 28 games with the Avalanche and Rangers this season.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon left the 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday with an upper-body injury, the team announced.

MacKinnon took a wrist shot from the slot in the first period, and as the puck sailed wide of the net, he winced but remained on the ice and finished his shift. When he went to the bench, the game broadcast showed a shot of him favoring his left side.