Montreal Claims Blair Betts; Assigns Engqvist to Hamilton

[Thrillhouse]

TORONTO – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced today that forward Blair Betts has been claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers, while forward Andreas Engqvist has been assigned to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.

Betts was held pointless in three preseason games with the Flyers, recording 3 shots on goal. In 75 games with the Flyers in 2010-11, the 31-year old centreman registered 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists). One of his goals was tallied on the penalty kill and two were game-winning goals. He added 8 penalty minutes and 51 shots on goal. Since 2001-02, Betts has amassed 78 points (41 goals, 37 assists) in 477 regular season games with the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and Flyers.

The 6’03’’, 210 lbs forward was the Flames second round pick (33rd overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

In six preseason games with the Canadiens, Engqvist registered one assist. The 23-year old centreman recorded 3 shots on goal.

[fcm]

Another 4th liner that has gloves made out of crazy-glue. Blair Betts ...
I guess Pierre Gauthier went on hockeyfights.com, saw that the guy only had 2 fights in the juniors, and said "hey, this is our man".

[youthattack]

Originally Posted by fcm

Another 4th liner that has gloves made out of crazy-glue. Blair Betts ...
I guess Pierre Gauthier went on hockeyfights.com, saw that the guy only had 2 fights in the juniors, and said "hey, this is our man".

Hahaha, that is pretty funny.

But aside from being soft as hell, Betts is a great 4th line center and penalty killer. If he stays healthy he will do a good job for Montreal.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by youthattack

Hahaha, that is pretty funny.

But aside from being soft as hell, Betts is a great 4th line center and penalty killer. If he stays healthy he will do a good job for Montreal.

That may be so, but MTL already has a bunch of great 4th line centers, Scott Gomez being the best.

This team just continues to pull one joke after another on it's fans.

[fcm]

Originally Posted by youthattack

Hahaha, that is pretty funny.

But aside from being soft as hell, Betts is a great 4th line center and penalty killer. If he stays healthy he will do a good job for Montreal.

Sure the Habs needed a guy like him, because actually, we were always playing Plekanec and Halpern (last year) as centers on the penalty kill. This year, it was Desharnais and Cammalleri... So I guess we needed of Betts at Cammy's place.

But actually, our biggest need is a HW. Our lines (when all players are healthy) will look like this:

Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta
Erik Cole - Tomas Plekanec - Michael Cammalleri
Andrei Kostitsyn - David Desharnais - Lars Eller
Travis Moen - Blair Betts - Mathieu Darche
(Ryan White)

What I see is Blair Betts taking Ryan White's place as a 4th liner. White was one of the only gritty forwards on Habs' roster, looks like he's not going to play a lot this year.

[nilan30]

Originally Posted by fcm

Sure the Habs needed a guy like him, because actually, we were always playing Plekanec and Halpern (last year) as centers on the penalty kill. This year, it was Desharnais and Cammalleri... So I guess we needed of Betts at Cammy's place.

But actually, our biggest need is a HW. Our lines (when all players are healthy) will look like this:

Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta
Erik Cole - Tomas Plekanec - Michael Cammalleri
Andrei Kostitsyn - David Desharnais - Lars Eller
Travis Moen - Blair Betts - Mathieu Darche
(Ryan White)

What I see is Blair Betts taking Ryan White's place as a 4th liner. White was one of the only gritty forwards on Habs' roster, looks like he's not going to play a lot this year.

I'll probably get blasted for this but I like this pickup. White is hurt right now and to the think the twelve guys listed ahead of him in your lines will all be healthy all year is crazy. I am happy this means that Andreas Enqvist won't be the fourth line. I would like to see a heavyweight of course, or even Blunden but we all know that won't happen with this regime so we might as well look at it from the stand point that it should help the Habs dreadful faceoff play and maybe lighten Plekanec's PK role so he can focus a little more on offence.

I like this move a lot more than the Halpern pick up right before last season. Still rather see Glen Metropolit centering the fourth line though.

[Chiefs for Life]

Well the last time Montreal picked a player up off of waivers, that Philly put on waivers was Glen Metropolit. Glen turned out to being a very good asset to the Canadiens.. Hockeydb has Blair Betts at 6,3- 210lbs, He is a solid penalty killer that will play on the fourth line with Travis Moen and Ryan White, Blair might not fight, but his is going to be playing on the fourth line....

I like this pick-up for a few other reasons also, Blair Betts an Travis Moen are both very good penalty killers, and will take some of those duties away from Tomas Plekanec and Brain Gionta, hopefully take some of the dirty ice time away from the guys that are there to set up and score goals.... 700k for a fourth line center, that has size, penalty killing capabilities, I think all the of the pluses out weigh the only minus that he doesn't fight....

[stevedepot]

Good signing for the Habs. Mild agitator, solid role player and penalty killer who goes hard on every shift. He'll do well in Montreal.

[Chiefs for Life]

I actually see the lines looking like this:

Max Pacioretty ---- Scott Gomez ---- Brian Gionta

Erik Cole ---- Tomas Plekanec--- Micheal Cammalleri

Andrei Kostitsyn --- David Desharnais -- Lars Eller

Travis Moen ---- Blair Betts ------- Ryan White

Yannick Weber ---- Mathieu Darche

Defence:

Josh Gorges -- Chris Campoli

Hal Gill ------- PK Subban

Andrei Markov -- Alexei Yemelin

Jaroslav Spacek -- Rapheal Diaz

Goalies:

Carey Price

Peter Budaj....

[fcm]

Originally Posted by Chiefs for Life

Josh Gorges -- Chris Campoli

Hal Gill ------- PK Subban

Andrei Markov -- Alexei Yemelin

Jaroslav Spacek -- Rapheal Diaz

That is the worst part.

[Time_Bomb]

Who was montreals last legit heavyweight? laraque?

[nilan30]

Originally Posted by Time_Bomb

Who was montreals last legit heavyweight? laraque?

Nope. Darren Langdon.

[bengino]

Originally Posted by Chiefs for Life

I actually see the lines looking like this:

Max Pacioretty ---- Scott Gomez ---- Brian Gionta

Erik Cole ---- Tomas Plekanec--- Micheal Cammalleri

Andrei Kostitsyn --- David Desharnais -- Lars Eller

Travis Moen ---- Blair Betts ------- Ryan White

Yannick Weber ---- Mathieu Darche

Defence:

Josh Gorges -- Chris Campoli

Hal Gill ------- PK Subban

Andrei Markov -- Alexei Yemelin

Jaroslav Spacek -- Rapheal Diaz

Goalies:

Carey Price

Peter Budaj....

Weber is a defenseman...

i personally don't care for this pickup... more useless then anything.. I really hate that they plucked this nobody off waivers and yet skipped over others that they could have had a use for.

[fcm]

Originally Posted by bengino

Weber is a defenseman...

Not anymore, Jacques Martin decided that he sucked too much and put him on the 4th line.

[ovechkinFTW]

Originally Posted by fcm

Sure the Habs needed a guy like him, because actually, we were always playing Plekanec and Halpern (last year) as centers on the penalty kill. This year, it was Desharnais and Cammalleri... So I guess we needed of Betts at Cammy's place.

But actually, our biggest need is a HW. Our lines (when all players are healthy) will look like this:

Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta
Erik Cole - Tomas Plekanec - Michael Cammalleri
Andrei Kostitsyn - David Desharnais - Lars Eller
Travis Moen - Blair Betts - Mathieu Darche
(Ryan White)

What I see is Blair Betts taking Ryan White's place as a 4th liner. White was one of the only gritty forwards on Habs' roster, looks like he's not going to play a lot this year.

Why do you have Ryan White as a scratch? Guy's great for fighting guys his size