Bruins Alumni: Happy Birthday Chuck Kobasew

( Photo Credit: Fosters | fosters.com )

By: Andrew Lindroth | Follow me on Twitter @andrewlindrothh

Happy 38th Birthday To Former Boston Bruins Forward Chuck Kobasew

Chuck Kobasew was born on April 17th, 1982, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He began playing juniors as a 15-year-old forward for the Osoyoos Heat (KIJHL) and then later joined the Penticton Panthers (BCHL) the following season and played with the club till 2000. When he turned 18, the 6’0, 192-pound forward committed to Boston College and played for the Boston College Eagles from 2000-2001, scoring 27 goals and 49 points in 43 games played. After a successful rookie year in the NCAA, Kobasew entered the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and was selected in the first round by the Calgary Flames.

After being drafted, Kobasew reported to the Western Hockey League (WHL) to suit up for the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), playing in 55 games and racking up 41-21-62 numbers. In 2002-2003, the forward was promoted to the American Hockey League, suiting up for the Saint John Flames (AHL) for 48 games before being called up for his first National Hockey League action with the Calgary Flames. In 2003, Kobasew appeared in his first 23 NHL games and contributed four goals and six points. The next season the forward solidified his spot in the Calgary line-up, playing in 70 games while producing 17 points, and helped lead Calgary to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 before being defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in game seven.

On this day in 2007, the Bruins acquired @Ferknuckle and Chuck Kobasew from the Flames in exchange for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau #Hockey365 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/FmdqTH2v1s

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) February 10, 2020

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The following season, Kobasew was reassigned to the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) and did not see any NHL action from 2004-2005. After an impressive 75 point season in the AHL, the right-winger was called back up to Calgary for his services from 2005-2006 and contributed 20-11-31 numbers in 77 games played. He continued to play with the Flames until being packaged up for a blockbuster deal right before the trade deadline on February 10th, 2007. Calgary traded Kobasew and Andrew Ference to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Brad Stuart, Wayne Primeau, and Washington’s fourth-round pick (previously acquired, Calgary selected T.J. Brodie) in the 2008 Entry Level Draft.

Kobasew played ten games with the Bruins before the season ended, contributing two points and 25 PIM. During the 2007-2008 campaign, the forward proved his worth after having a career-high year, scoring 22 goals and 39 points in 73 games played. After a successful season, the Bruins agreed to terms with Kobasew on a three-year contract extension worth $2.22 million a year. Through his hard-work ethic and blue-collar shifts, he became a fan favorite for many in Boston during the time.

The next season, Kobasew continued producing for the Bruins, posting 21-21-42 numbers in 68 games played. In 2009, his journey in Boston came to an end just after seven games into the 2009-2010 campaign when he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Craig Weller, Alexander Fallstrom, and Minnesota’s second-round pick (Alexander Khokhlachev) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The forward would go on to suit up for the Wild from 2009-2011, appearing in 105 games and posting 18-12-30 numbers before his contract expired, sending him to the free-agent market.

On July 1st, 2011, Kobasew was signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche on a two-year deal. He suited up for Colorado from 2011-2013, producing 12 goals and 23 points in 95 games played. After his time in Colorado expired, he signed to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent in 2013. He would go on to play his final 33 NHL games before being placed on waivers for reassignment to the AHL, appearing in 12 games with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL) before deciding to retire from the NHL in 2014.

After retiring from the NHL, Kobasew left North America to play in Sweden for the Bern SC (Swiss-A) from 2014-2016. After suffering concussions during the 2015-2016 season, he officially retired from the hockey world in 2016 at the age of 34. Throughout his 11-year tenure in the NHL, Kobasew suited up for 601 games and posted 110-100-210 numbers. Happy birthday, Chuck Kobasew!