Thrashers make contract offers to seven players

The Thrashers made qualifying contract offers to seven players Monday, ensuring that they will remain with the team for the 2009-10 season. The club made the one-year offers to restricted free agent forwards Colby Armstrong, Jordan Lavallee and Jim Slater, defensemen Scott Lehman, Grant Lewis and Boris Valabik and goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

Forward Chris Thorburn and goalie Dan Turple were not made offers, making them unrestricted free agents on Wednesday. The Thrashers said they will continue negotiations with Thorburn and expect to re-sign him.

Also becoming unrestricted free agents on Wednesday will be forwards Eric Perrin and Joey Crabb and defenseman Nathan Oystrick.

Players can decline the qualifying offers but the Thrashers still retain their rights. A multi-year deal can also be negotiated. The offers can include a raise of up to 10 percent.