Flames centre Matthew Lombardi, left, is ready to build on a career season and could spend time on the top scoring line alongside captain Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Matthew Lombardi had just finished a career season in the NHL and was looking forward to relaxing in Hawaii with his soon-to-be wife Joannie when he received an important phone call.

It didn't take long for the Calgary Flames centre to accept an invitation to join Team Canada at the world hockey championship in Russia last April.

"I almost booked the trip [to Hawaii]. We were going to meet [former Flames teammate] Chuck Kobasew and his wife there. I don't know why I delayed," Lombardi told CBCSports.ca.

Good thing he did, as Lombardi played a huge part in Canada's first world title since 2004. The 25-year-old led the team with 12 points in nine games playing alongside Rick Nash and captain Shane Doan. The trio combined for 33 points and a plus-19 rating.

Lombardi said the two-week tournament was "just an awesome experience."

"You learn a lot from guys like that," he said, referring to Doan and Nash. "Shane, just the way he's a leader, the way he treats everybody and competes every game. He just wants to win. That's the bottom line. He can do it all.

"Nash is the same. You see the top players and they're good players every single night for 82 games [of the NHL season]."

Lombardi is hoping to carry momentum from the world championship into the 2007-08 NHL campaign that begins for Calgary on Oct. 4 against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

During a recent conference call, Flames captain Jarome Iginla told CBCSports.ca that Lombardi's confidence was evident on the world stage and has continued at training camp this year.

"I think we all know he's going to do some great things in the league and be a big contributor offensively," Iginla said of Lombardi, who had 20 goals and 46 points in 81 games last season, his third in the NHL. "You could see he wants to take it to a next level.

"He has such explosive speed but he also has a great shot. He's capable of scoring goals and he can make plays. I think this is going to be a huge year for him."

CBCSports.ca spoke with Lombardi about life as an NHLer in Calgary, his impressions of new Flames coach Mike Keenan and how he can take his game to the next level.

Matthew Lombardi tallied 20 goals and 46 points last season for the Flames. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Describe one of your typical training days in the off-season.

August is my most intense month. I'm skating four times a week with my personal trainer, David Arsenault, who I've worked with for the last seven or eight years.

We'll do some one-on-one training and then head to the rink with a couple of other guys he trains to do different drills on the ice. I'll be on the ice three times a week and then the fourth day, I play a scrimmage.

I also like to bike on the road. It was something I picked up from a couple of former [Flames] teammates, Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew.

Since Chris Pronger was traded by the Oilers on July 3, 2006, there has been talk that Edmonton is not an attractive destination for players. What is life like for an NHL player in Calgary?

I really enjoy it. My wife [Joannie] enjoys it a lot. We have a lot of friends here that are not even in the hockey world. It's a great place.

It's just a hockey town. It's not a crazy city like the Toronto and Montreal [hockey] markets. People just love their hockey here, they're passionate about it and the organization treats the players well. It has a lot of things going for it.

Recently, the NHL's board of governors indicated they might alter the schedule next season, so you're not playing eight games against your own division. That number could be reduced to seven or six games, thus allowing teams to play each of the other 29 clubs at least once. Do you like the eight games or would you prefer playing each team?

I like mixing it up. Playing fewer games against [division opponents] might make it [the rivalries] better. I would love the chance to play Montreal [my hometown]. We don't even play Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto [in the Eastern Conference].

I think it would be good for fans, too. They could see players that they've never seen before.

In your first three NHL seasons, what defenceman repeatedly got the best of you in one-on-one battles?

Nicklas Lidstrom [of the Detroit Red Wings] is pretty tough. It's so hard to check him and defend against him if you're on the penalty kill. Five-on-five, it's also hard to forecheck him.

In June, the Calgary Flames hired Mike Keenan to replace coach Jim Playfair, who has stayed on as an assistant. Keenan, who has guided seven other NHL teams, has built a reputation as a taskmaster. What are your impressions of Keenan? How does his on-ice demeanour differ from Playfair and former coach Darryl Sutter?

It's tough to say. We haven't got into the regular season. I'm just trying to make a lot of positive things happen and so far it's been good.

We're learning things as a group each day and he's trying to bring us together for the regular season. As training camp goes along, we'll learn more about our team and how things are going to be.

Practising-wise, the tempo is up [from Playfair and Sutter]. He's big on fitness but the team came to camp in good shape. It makes for some high-intensity practices.

Former Flames coaches Jim Playfair and Darryl Sutter demanded a lot of you over the last two seasons, saying you needed to drive to the net more and "get dirty" in the corners. How did that tough love help you grow as a person and a player?

Basically, you take it for what it is. I just tried to become a better player. You have to go out and prove you can do the job.

You signed a three-year contract worth $5.5 million on June 1. What was your first significant purchase?

Nothing really [laughing]. I should wait until I start getting paid [when the NHL season starts Oct. 3].

I got married, so that's a pretty hefty thing to do [financially]. It was a pretty big wedding. We went to Paris for a week on our honeymoon. I can't take much time [off] in the middle of the summer.

With a big contract comes a heightened expectation. What benchmarks have you set entering your fourth NHL season?

I definitely want to improve on last year [20 goals, 46 points and a plus-10 rating in 81 games] and help the team win.

I need to use my speed as much as I can, take the play to the net and shoot the puck more.

Mike Keenan is giving you another chance to play on the top line with right-winger Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. At this stage in your career, why are you best suited for a top line role and with players like these?

I don't know if it's going to happen. Lines have been changed throughout [training] camp. I think I've become a well-rounded player. I have also been put in a lot of situations - playoff games and other big games - so I have that experience.

If I do have a chance to play with Jarome and Alex, they have unbelievable talent. They elevate your game because they're going every night. Jarome steps up every night, is a great leader and carries the team. For me, he's a great example.

I've been practising more with Tangs and there is some [on-ice] chemistry. He's such a good passer and he finds you wherever you are on the ice.

What are some of your favourite pre-game meals?

Chicken and wild rice, vegetables and salad. Kind of the boring stuff, but it's not too heavy and I feel good with it.