Friday, September 26, 2008

Betts: Hopefully They Have Plans for Me

One of the more interesting subplots to this preseason is Petr Nedved possibly taking Blair Betts fourth line center spot.

For a team that has only scored 10 goals in five preseason games, Nedved's 2 goals and 1 assist is very appealing. But this team is about team defense first. And there's no one on this team that personifies that more than Blair Betts.

I can't see Nedved diving to block shots (Betts lead Ranger forwards last year) or playing significant minutes on the penalty kill giving players such as Gomez and Drury some rest.

When we need a line to shutdown Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin are you going to feel more comfortable with a line centered by Betts or Nedved?

Here's Betts on Nedved and the situation...

“He’s a great player that has made his name in the National Hockey League. I’m not exactly sure if I’m competing for a spot with him,” Betts said to Sam Weinman at The Rangers Report. “If they’re looking to have him play on the fourth line and be on the power play and put the puck in the net and things like that, that’s their decision. My game’s not necessarily to go out there and score every night. It’s to play good defensively and be good on the penalty kill and things like that. Hopefully they have plans for me.”

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