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The Ottawa Senators will be focused on the present as well as the future when the NHL draft festivities get underway this week in Vancouver.

In a telephone interview with this newspaper Saturday, general manager Pierre Dorion indicated he’ll try to add a veteran player or two either through a trade or via free agency on July 1.

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Yes, the Senators are in a rebuild, but Dorion said that doesn’t mean the organization feels it can dress 20 young players and expect them to grow. He’s looking to make deals to help improve the team to bring in experience.

The Senators have already kept backup goalie Anders Nilsson from testing unrestricted free agency by signing him to a two-year, $5.2-million extension, and he’ll play a bigger role with veteran Craig Anderson, who heads into the final year of his contract.

“Our fans have to know it’s not just going to be a bunch of young kids,” he said. “It’s important they understand that we might bring in a veteran (player), whether it’s through trades or free agency. You can’t put kids on the first line because they can’t play against the best players on the other team.