The Calgary Flames, parent club of the AHL’s Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, announced on Monday that forwards Chuck Kobasew and Matthew Lombardi have accepted their qualifying offers. The team also signed goaltender Brent Krahn and forward Lynn Loyns, along with rookies Eric Nystrom, Curtis McElhinney and Brandon Prust.
As per club policy, terms and conditions of the deals were not disclosed.
Kobasew, 23, played in 79 games with the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) this past season, posting 75 points in 79 games. The Osoyoos, B.C., native tied for fourth in the league with 38 goals, ranked first with 12 game-winning goals and tied for the league lead with a plus-37 rating. He played in the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic and was named a First Team AHL All-Star.
Kobasew, who appeared in all 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Flames in 2004, was the 14th overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Lombardi, 23, came back from a concussion and skated in nine regular-season games for Lowell in 2004-05, recording three goals and one assist. He added three assists in 11 playoff matches. He was a third-round pick by Calgary in 2002.
Krahn, 23, played in 35 games for Lowell in 2004-05, posting a record of 20-11-2 with six shutouts. and a 2.49 GAA. Krahn, 25-21-3 in 56 career AHL outings, was the ninth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Loyns, 24, played in 77 games with Lowell during the 2004-05 season, scoring seven goals and eight assists with 42 penalty minutes. In 237 career AHL games with Lowell and Cleveland, Loyns has totaled 34 goals and 40 assists for 74 points. He has also appeared in 33 career NHL games with Calgary and San Jose.
Nystrom, 22, posted 32 points on 13 goals and 19 assists and served as captain at the University of Michigan during the 2004-05 season. In 160 career games in the CCHA with Michigan the son of former NHL great Bob Nystrom notched 111 points (56 goals, 55 assists) and 149 PIM. Eric was selected 10th overall by the Flames in the 2002 Entry Draft.
McElhinney, 22, has played the past four seasons with Colorado College, posting a 62-16-8 record with nine shutouts and a 2.32 career GAA. Last season, McElhinney went 21-4-1 during the 2004-05 season and led the Tigers to a trip to the Frozen Four.
Prust, 21, helped the London Knights capture the Memorial Cup championship in 2005, recording 10 goals, 20 assists and a team-high 174 penalty minutes in 48 regular-season games. Calgary selected Prust in the third round of the 2004 draft.
