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NEWARK, N.J. -- The Calgary Flames are in full rebuilding mode, and their three first-round picks could play a major role in that process. Thats their thinking after taking forwards Sean Monahan, Emile Poirier and Morgan Klimchuk in Sundays NHL draft. General manager Jay Feaster had opportunities to trade picks for immediate help, but it wasnt difficult to resist that. "At the end of the day for us there were guys that they were a year or two years away from unrestricted free agency," Feaster said. "Were committed to the rebuild, and we talked about it as a management group and said its not the right way to go about the rebuild in terms of moving the picks for guys that are going to be UFAs." Monahan, the centre Calgary took sixth overall, is most likely the closest of the three to being NHL-ready. Feaster has already had conversations with Monahan about making the team next season. "I want to play. Thats my goal," Monahan said. "I want to play this year, and I think I can. I want to make an impact and I want to be a reliable player out there, too." The Flames could use reliable players after trading winger Jarome Iginla and defenceman Jay Bouwmeester last season. Hes interested in trading Michael Cammalleri, too, and younger players are expected to fill those holes. Monahan was the captain and leading scorer of the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League, who went 16-46. He knows a thing or two about being part of a rebuilding effort like whats going on in Calgary. "Im looking forward to it," he said. "Its going to be a challenge and Im always up for a challenge. I think Im going to be a part of that team and help that team win, so its going to be a fun time." Feaster mentioned a desire to add more size throughout the organization, and the Flames did so in the six-foot-two Monahan, six-foot-one Poirier, the 22nd pick. Talent, not size, was the focus. "We didnt base anything on any of these three guys on size," director of scouting Tod Button said. "Size was an added bonus. Theyre all good-size kids. They all play the game properly. Theyre not shy, they play in traffic. So thats more important to us than their actual physical stature." Demeanour may have been a factor, too. Monahan and Klimchuk, the 28th pick, have proven to be focused individuals. "Theyre serious about being pro hockey players and for sure that helps," Button said. "We dont look at it as a negative if a kid has a little bit more of a loose side, but for sure Sean and Morgan are serious about where they want to go and what they want to be when they get older." Theres not much about the Flames that will be old next season, unless Feaster is unable to trade Cammalleri and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff decides to return. Right now the idea seems to be getting younger, and they did so with their first-rounders. "I think 20 minutes after the first round everybody comes away satisfied," Button said. "I dont think youll find anybody that says, I cant believe we took him. 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SUNRISE, Fla. -- Aaron Ekblad is fully aware that the Florida Panthers will be dealing with a new issue this season, that being the burden of preseason expectations.Hes not bothered.The Panthers reached the playoffs and won the Atlantic Division last season, two major steps for a franchise that has known almost nothing but struggle since reaching the Stanley Cup final for the first and only time in 1996. And with a young core of talent now basically locked up for years -- the 20-year-old Ekblad is under contract through 2025 -- anything less than a playoff run next spring would be a disappointment for Florida.In the end, your guys expectations and everyone elses expectations mean absolutely nothing, Ekblad said. Its our expectations. As players, on a personal level and on a team level, we have expectations that exceed all of yours times 10. In the end, were the ones who have gotten here. Were the ones who have pushed ourselves beyond measure to get into this situation.And what is this situation?We believe we can do it, Ekblad said.Ekblad has been an All-Star defenseman in each of his first two NHL seasons, and hes already one of the faces of the franchise. Hockey hasnt caught basketball -- even after Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat this week for the Chicago Bulls -- or football in terms of popularity among the South Florida sports landscape, but the fact that these Panthers are getting attention in the summertime shows how far the franchise has come.The Panthers announced his $60 million, eight-yeaar extension (which kicks in next summer) last week, then held a news conference at their arena on Thursday to announce the deal again.dddddddddddd. Theres some offseason rebuilding projects going on in the arena, and there was some remodeling of the roster this summer as well.Theres more than two months before the start of training camp, but its hard to find a time when optimism has been this high for Florida.We put ourselves in a good position, Panthers general manager Tom Rowe said. Are we a definite Stanley Cup, going-away winner right now? I dont think you can rule us out but its not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination. But I think weve got the horses now to have a deep run in the playoffs.Ekblad will be a big key, if or when that deep run ever comes.Hes seemed unfazed by whatever came his way in his first two seasons with the Panthers. His confession came Thursday: Hes not always as cool as he appears.I try to keep it all in my head, Ekblad said. I really try to put a face on that no one really knows whats going on inside my head and I think a lot of players from a lot of different sports have that. Obviously, every night, I go to bed and I think about all those things and all those pressures. But more or less just have to use it as motivation and thats what Ive done over the last couple years.Its working for him, and its working for the Panthers as well. ' ' '