That became evident during his time with Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. With Ottawa facing playoff elimination in the 2011-12 season, Monahan, the team captain, sustained a back injury.

At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Monahan has proven to be one of the tougher and more durable players in the NHL.

At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Monahan has proven to be one of the tougher and more durable players in the NHL.

That became evident during his time with Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. With Ottawa facing playoff elimination in the 2011-12 season, Monahan, the team captain, sustained a back injury.

The team didn't bring his equipment to the rink the next day, assuming he'd be out for the rest of the playoffs, but Monahan not only played, he scored twice.

Selected with the No. 6 pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2013 NHL Draft, Monahan cracked the lineup in 2013-14 as an 18-year-old and scored six goals in his first eight games. He finished with 22 goals, the first Flames rookie since defenseman Dion Phaneuf in 2005-06 to reach the 20-goal mark.

The teenager became a focal point of the Flames' rebuilding effort, and his responsibilities expanded; Calgary began using him to take key faceoffs at both ends of the ice and has relied on him as a vital part of the power play.

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