Betts 'relieved' after signing with Flyers

The Flyers finally reached an agreement yesterday with free agent Blair Betts, signing the fourth-line center for $550,000 and putting him on their 23-player roster for tonight's opener at Carolina.

"I'm relieved," Betts said.

"I would rather it happened sooner than later, but nonetheless, I think we made the right decision to come here," he said.

Early in training camp, the Flyers made it clear they wanted to sign Betts.

However, it took them longer than expected because they had to justify to the NHL that Mike Rathje, who has had back and hip trouble, belonged on the long-term injured list, thus keeping his $3.5 million salary off the cap and leaving room for Betts. Rathje hasn't played since 2006.

Betts, 29, had an impressive camp and gives the Flyers a solid penalty killer and face-off man. He won all eight of his face-offs in his last preseason game.

During yesterday's practice, Betts centered the fourth line, between Dan Carcillo and Ian Laperriere. Darroll Powe, the fourth-line center in the final preseason game, moved to right wing on a line with Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

In another move, the Flyers placed defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (hip) on the injured-reserve list and recalled Marc-Andre Bourdon, 20, from the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL. Bourdon will be the team's seventh defenseman this weekend.

- Sam Carchidi