As reported last night on Twitter, Flyers’ center Blair Betts has signed a two-year extension with the club worth $1.4 million, or $700,000 per season. The deal will keep the 29 year old in the Orange and Black through the 2011-12 season.
“Blair has been a valuable addition to our team this year,” GM Paul Holmgren said in the official press release. “He has a strong work ethic and plays an important role on our team. We are pleased to have him under contract for the future.”
The multi-year extension was a show of good faith by the Flyers, who have reaped the surprising benefits of the under-appreciated fourth liner. In 39 games, Betts has six goals and four assists and ranks fourth on the team in plus/minus with plus-6. He is second on the team in face off percentage, winning at a 51.4% rate.
“I’m really happy with the new contract,” said Betts. “It was exactly what I was looking for. I was glad that the Flyers were willing to give me a couple years and show some commitment to me.”
After spending four seasons with the Rangers, Betts came to the Flyers on a try-out basis during the team’s 2009-10 training camp. There, the hard-working forward Edmonton native earned himself a league-minimum, one-year contract during the final days of camp.
On Jan. 17, Betts and his wife Susan had a baby girl named Olivia.
Phila.Bright 