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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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