Saturday, March 28, 2009

Betts

By Denise I Smithson

The New York Rangers acquired Blair Betts in the 2005-06 NHL Hockey season and he has been with them, centering on the defensive 4th line. He is one of the New York Rangers most consistent face-off men winning a more than losing them.

The New York Post wrote that Blair Betts and his teammate, Sjostrom, could be the best penalty kill tandem in Rangers history and they had a franchise high of 87.6 percent. He has also been declared one of the most underrated players in the league.

Having played for the Calgary Flames since 1998, before joining the New York Rangers, this Canadian born ice hockey player weighs 210 pounds at 6 feet 3 inches. His pro career started in 2001 and he has been a consistent defensive center.

The New York Rangers, however, have not done so well. They are going through their highest losing streak, so it may be hard to determine where some of the praise for Blair Betts is translating into winning games for the team.

Blair Betts has been also plagued with injuries, suffering a broken orbital bone around his left eye in May, 2008, and recovering from an upper body injury in December, 2008. Prior to that injury, he had three goals and five points in 28 games this past season. In his fourth season with the New York Rangers, he has missed time with injuries to his knee, foot and face.

As everyone knows, NHL play is rough and injuries are relatively common, particularly in defensive players. Only 28, Betts has seen plenty of the ice since he began playing with the Calgary Flames back in 1998.

He actually began his career in 1996 playing for the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League, before being drafted by the Flames in the 1998 NHL draft. Some may wonder if it is taking a toll on his health and ability to be a consistent player.

Betts scored eight goals and two assists in his first season as a Ranger and since then, he has played mostly on special teams, being widely known for his penalty killing prowess and skill in face-offs.

In his NHL career, Betts has racked up 27 goals and 18 assists, mostly while playing for the New York Rangers. The Rangers are going through tough times at the moment - and his being sidelined for injuries is probably not helping matters any. However, many believe that the Rangers have a great defensive line; but it is their offense which is not up to snuff.

Experts blame the Rangers last place position on a lack of confidence and a failure of the players to gel as a team. Whether Blair Betts can do much to help bring the Rangers out of the slump remains to be seen. Other players, and Rangers General Manager, Sather could shoulder much of the blame. Blair Betts has a lot of work cut out for him with this team, and could probably do better on one that would do him justice. - 16887

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