Betts
By Denise I Smithson
Drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2005-2006 season, Blair Betts plays the 4th defensive line and is known as one of the best face-off men in the entire NHL.
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.
Betts has come to the team at a tough time. The Rangers are experiencing their longest losing streak at the moment and the team is currently ranked bottom in the league. Blair Betts is a great performer on the ice, but unfortunately it hasn't been enough to get the Rangers moving up through the ranks.
Betts has spent some time on the sidelines due to injuries, which have included a broken left orbital in May 2008, followed by an upper body injury late in the year. In the time he's been in the rink, however, he has managed to score three goals and five points in the 28 games he has played in the season. Betts has also suffered from knee, foot and face injuries as a Ranger.
Of course, ice hockey in the NHL can be a rough and tumble game and many defensive players can get injured from rough play or fights on the rink. Blair Betts, at 28 years old, has been playing professionally since 2000, when he joined the AHL, Calgary Flames.
Betts started playing hockey even before this, of course. He got his start with the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars, with whom he played from 1996 until being taken by the Calgary Flames in the 1998 NHL draft. Hockey can really take its toll on an athlete, with many wondering if Betts' health is beginning to suffer as a result of his time in the sport.
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.
A lot of fans and sportswriters alike think that the Rangers are at the bottom of the heap right now because they have lost confidence in their abilities and have failed to come together as a team. Maybe Betts' defensive playing skills can help get the Rangers back in the game - but most think that the team's management really bears the blame for the team's poor performance. Blair Betts is a talented athlete who many fans believe would be better off seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
Drafted by the New York Rangers in the 2005-2006 season, Blair Betts plays the 4th defensive line and is known as one of the best face-off men in the entire NHL.
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.
Betts has come to the team at a tough time. The Rangers are experiencing their longest losing streak at the moment and the team is currently ranked bottom in the league. Blair Betts is a great performer on the ice, but unfortunately it hasn't been enough to get the Rangers moving up through the ranks.
Betts has spent some time on the sidelines due to injuries, which have included a broken left orbital in May 2008, followed by an upper body injury late in the year. In the time he's been in the rink, however, he has managed to score three goals and five points in the 28 games he has played in the season. Betts has also suffered from knee, foot and face injuries as a Ranger.
Of course, ice hockey in the NHL can be a rough and tumble game and many defensive players can get injured from rough play or fights on the rink. Blair Betts, at 28 years old, has been playing professionally since 2000, when he joined the AHL, Calgary Flames.
Betts started playing hockey even before this, of course. He got his start with the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars, with whom he played from 1996 until being taken by the Calgary Flames in the 1998 NHL draft. Hockey can really take its toll on an athlete, with many wondering if Betts' health is beginning to suffer as a result of his time in the sport.
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.
A lot of fans and sportswriters alike think that the Rangers are at the bottom of the heap right now because they have lost confidence in their abilities and have failed to come together as a team. Maybe Betts' defensive playing skills can help get the Rangers back in the game - but most think that the team's management really bears the blame for the team's poor performance. Blair Betts is a talented athlete who many fans believe would be better off seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
Blair Betts Pictures
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