Holmgren would not say what the hang up is in the negotiations. Betts earned $615,000 last year with the Rangers and would probably be due a small raise. The length of contract is not likely a deal breaker as Holmgren said that the club would discuss both 1- and 2-year deals.
The whole "saga," as Holmgren called it, has left Betts baffled. Both sides have known since the first preseason game that he would be a good fit in Philadelphia, exactly 2 weeks ago from yesterday.
Betts was hoping to have heard something when the two sides first began to negotiate seriously on Monday.
"I have no idea," Betts said, clearly frustrated, after practice. "As the player, I honestly don't know.
"They said they need a little bit more time and we are waiting to hear from [the Flyers]."
Two phone calls by the Daily News to Betts' agent, Steve Kotlowitz with the Edmonton-based Sports Corporation, went unreturned.
Betts excels in the faceoff circle and could be a fixture on the team's first penalty killing unit if he can strike an accord with the Flyers. Playing more minutes on the penalty kill, he would take pressure off of Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux.
"We need a guy like him," defenseman Danny Syvret said. "He is a good player and he brings a lot to this team. He would definitely take a load off of some of the other players."
Betts is an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team at any time. But he said after practice that he has not spoken to other teams.
"It's either we're staying here," Betts said, "or if we're not staying here then we'll figure something else out.
"I'm confident something will happen."
Holmgren wasn't as confident.
"I don't know," Holmgren said. "We'll see how it goes over the next day. If we don't have anything done by tomorrow, it probably won't happen."
Young and safe
