Canadiens claim Blair Betts, waive Jeff Woywitka

After losing Jeff Halpern and Tom Pyatt in the offseason, the Montreal Canadiens added some depth to their forward units on Wednesday, claiming forward Blair Betts off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Edmonton native, who is fairly imposing at 6-feet-3 and 210 pounds, has played 477 career games with the Flyers, Calgary Flames and New York Rangers, recording 41 goals and 37 assists in the process. The 31-year old centre has also played in 62 playoff contests.

Betts is expected to join the Canadiens in Toronto when they take on the Maple Leafs in their season opener.

To make room for Betts on the roster, the Canadiens placed defenceman Jeff Woywitka on waivers and sent forwards Michael Blunden, Ian Schultz and Aaron Palushaj to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Blunden was placed on waivers yesterday but went unclaimed.

Click here to read the full press release.

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Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.com and an Editor at HabsWorld.net. Louis was born in Chicago but grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval. He currently lives in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. He can be reached at l.moustakas@habsworld.net.

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Official Habs Press Release - Habs Trade Halak for Eller and Schultz

THE MONTREAL CANADIENS ACQUIRE FORWARDS LARS ELLER AND IAN SCHULTZ FROM THE ST. LOUIS BLUES IN RETURN FOR NETMINDER JAROSLAV HALAK

MONTREAL (June 17, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced today that the team acquired forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz from the St. Louis Blues in return for netminder Jaroslav Halak.

Eller, 21, suited for seven games with the Blues in 2009-10, scoring twice (2-0-2) with a +2 plus/minus differential with a time on ice average of 10:49. Over the course of the last season, the 6’1" and 198 lbs centerman also played with the Blues’AHL affiliate in Peoria where he was the Rivermen’ second best point-getter with 57 points (18-39-57) in 70 games.

The Danish forward, who also played in the American Hockey League All-Star Game, finished 9th in the AHL with 22 powerplay assists.

A native of Herlev, in Denmark, Eller was a first round selection, 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Prior to coming over to North America, Eller suited up with Boras HC in neighboring Sweden before being promoted to Goteborg’ HC Vostra Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League, where he played from 2007 to 2009.

Schultz, 20, was 6th among team scoring leaders in 2009-10 with 55 points (24-31-55) in 70 games with the WHL Calgary Hitmen. Ten of his tallies were recorded on the powerplay and two more while his team was shorthanded.
Schultz also served 150 penalty minutes. The 6’ 1’– 208 lbs power forward added 15 points in the 2009-10 WHL playoffs helping his team win the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The St. Louis Blues’third round, 87th overall selection in 2008 Schultz has an older brother, Jeff, who plays with the Washington Capitals.

A native of Calgary, Schultz was the recipient of the Hitmen’ Enmax Energy Humanitarian Award for 2010.

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