Confirmed with Link: Jochen Hecht - 1 year, $1 million cap hit

[joshjull]

He's also played in a single playoff game since 2007. He missed the playoffs in both 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, AKA when they needed him the most.

So does that mean if he got hurt in October instead its all good?

 

[Myllz]

So does that mean if he got hurt in October instead its all good?

Uh, no? It's a hell of a lot easier to recover from him missing 7 games in October vs. missing 7 games in April, though.

 

[joshjull]

Uh, no? It's a hell of a lot easier to recover from him missing 7 games in October vs. missing 7 games in April, though.

When the better guys are out injured it hurts the team regardless of when it was. Ennis' absence wasn't any less painful because it was earlier in the season. If anything it hurt more. Nor the string of dmen we lost in the middle of the year. In fact that run of dmen injuries was what pretty much buried us.

Its seems a tad arbitrary to hammer Hecht because he missed time at the end of the season.

 

[Myllz]

When the better guys are out injured it hurts the team regardless of when it was. Ennis absence wasn't any less painful because it was earlier in the season. If anything it hurt more. Nor the string of dmen we lost in the middle of the year. In fact that run of dmen injuries was what pretty much buried us.

Its seems a tad arbitrary to hammer Hecht because he missed time at the end of the season.

He still missed more time that wasn't accounted for in the original response about him not being injury prone. His defensive style is also what most people complain about us missing every playoff round, so yeah, they missed him more than usual during those postseason absences.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

He's also played in a single playoff game since 2007. He missed the playoffs in both 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, AKA when they needed him the most.

But that makes him a perfect Sabre as it means he misses the playoffs more than he makes them.

 

[Myllz]

But that makes him a perfect Sabre as it means he misses the playoffs more than he makes them.

9/10

 

[Paxon]

The idea that Ruff has 'shoehorned' Hecht in as #1C is ridiculous. Guess me and some other people were watching completely different teams the past few years.

As if Ruff was somehow wrong for elevating Hecht when Roy was injured rather than, uh, Paul Gaustad.

 

[Moskau]

He's also played in a single playoff game since 2007. He missed the playoffs in both 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, AKA when they needed him the most.

Time to get rid of Vanek and Kaleta as well then. Both have been either injured or too dinged up to help the team during April the past few seasons. Kaleta in fact has been a complete no show for many of the team's 2nd half and playoff games since he's been a pro because he's been so injured. Ehrhoff injured himself in a fight when the team needed him the most last year.

**** happens.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

This is deja vu all over again only it's arguing over whether Broken Jochen breaks again or Timmah.

Mika > Miller > Biron

 

[Myllz]

Time to get rid of Vanek and Kaleta as well then. Both have been either injured or too dinged up to help the team during April the past few seasons. Kaleta in fact has been a complete no show for many of the team's 2nd half and playoff games since he's been a pro because he's been so injured. Ehrhoff injured himself in a fight when the team needed him the most last year.

**** happens.

Kaleta's massively unreliable too, but that's just the nature of the beast with him. Vanek missed 3 games in 2009-2010, but had 5 goals in all 7 games last postseason and 3 points in the 3 games he did play in during 2009-2010. He's been nowhere near as unreliable as Hecht.

 

[Ness]

As long as the joker stays at LW, with limited minutes and pk responsibility... I'm OK with it.

Would a NHL team with 3 Germans set some kind of record?

IMO, Hecht was as effective as I've ever seen him during the 09-10 season at LW when he was on a shut-down line with Kennedy and Grier. But given the lack of current center depth, I understand why he'll be playing center. I'm fine with it, just hope he doesn't get another concussion.

 

[jBuds]

The idea that Ruff has 'shoehorned' Hecht in as #1C is ridiculous. Guess me and some other people were watching completely different teams the past few years.

As if Ruff was somehow wrong for elevating Hecht when Roy was injured rather than, uh, Paul Gaustad.

Agreed. Quite an absurd level of reaching for negatives going on.

And we aren't breaking the bank by signing him, that's for sure. I don't consider another body to put in the bottom nine - who can play down the middle - a bad thing.

Yeah, it would have been nice for them to entertain a different person to sign for that role. But here's a guy who will come cheap, is familiar with the system, is a plus for the locker room, knows where to be in the defensive zone, and wasn't the "entire problem" (some may think) as far as why we've underperformed as a team the last few years.

Over it, and moving on to other concerns that are legitimate.

 

[heartsabres*]

Right? At least neither is relied upon anymore for top 6 forward responsibilities.

Getting injured during the most critical time of the season -- twice, in a row -- is not the stuff Iron Man legends are made of.

We go from brittle to Iron man....I know it is the internet but come on, lets use our adjectives properly.

 

[SabresBillsBuffalo]

Put Hecht at the wing. I really wanted to see a different look from this team than the typical losing core.

 

[joshjull]

He still missed more time that wasn't accounted for in the original response about him not being injury prone. His defensive style is also what most people complain about us missing every playoff round, so yeah, they missed him more than usual during those postseason absences.

Fair points.

 

[slip]

We go from brittle to Iron man....I know it is the internet but come on, lets use our adjectives properly.

Huh?

 

[joshjull]

Huh?

Maybe he missed the sarcasm of your previous post?

 

[heartsabres*]

Huh?

So i see I lost you, in your post you use the adjective - iron. Why must it be so extreme. No one said Hecht is an IRON man.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Can't figure out Hecht hate. There's no down side here. He's going to be maybe $750,000 for a year, knows system, can play wing or centre. They downside is permanent injury, nothing to sneeze about, but his risk. If his head is ok, he'll be a solid addition on 3rd or 4th lime. He's a huge upgrade over Ellis, I'll argue that with anyone,

 

[kirby11]

Hope hecht's head is okay. Not expecting much at all from him given his injury situations the past few years, but as others have said, he's a good locker room influence, is defensively responsible, can be slotted in many spots, etc. and the deal's only a year, can't complain too much about that

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Kaleta's massively unreliable too, but that's just the nature of the beast with him. Vanek missed 3 games in 2009-2010, but had 5 goals in all 7 games last postseason and 3 points in the 3 games he did play in during 2009-2010. He's been nowhere near as unreliable as Hecht.

Don't use facts now

Comparing Vaneks health to Hechts is a joke. Vanek has been our best player the last 2 series. I doubt Hecht will make it past 20 games, and I wonder how much we overpaid him .

 

[Corto]

I doubt Hecht will make it past 20 games, and I wonder how much we overpaid him .

It's a one-year deal, for 48 games, for a guy the organization knows in depth, and who's been a soldier for the club for the last 10 years.
Seeing as how YOU aren't paying him anything, why are you so concerned with "how much they're overpaying" him in this case?

It just reeks of bias and agenda.

 

[Weltschmerz]

Comparing Vaneks health to Hechts is a joke. Vanek has been our best player the last 2 series. I doubt Hecht will make it past 20 games, and I wonder how much we overpaid him .

Will you go away when your 25 games guarantee doesn't fullfill?

 

[Sabretip]

These two articles from Bill Hoppe and WGR point out irrefutable facts on why signing Hecht for this season and this season makes 100% sense:

The Sabres are short on forwards. Nathan Gerbe and Cody McCormick are not ready to begin the season and, even if Mikhal Grigorenko sticks with the team, they still have zero depth. If there were another injury, Buffalo would have to reach to Rochester to get Kevin Porter.

That's really the only option. Lose two players and they are in big trouble.

Signing Hecht isn't about Regier and coach Lindy Ruff going with old faithful, it's about them finding the best option. And sometimes, the best option is the guy you know.

Consider the players who are still free agents: Brian Rolston, Daymond Langkow, Jason Arnott, Mike Knuble, Marco Sturm, Jason Blake, Jay Pandalfo, Brendan Morrison and on and on.

All old and none better than Hecht. If you are thinking trade, fine. But what team in their right mind is giving up a solid center with six days to go before camp? (“In their right mind†obviously excludes Columbus). The trade market will undoubtedly loosen up as the season progresses, but signing Hecht now doesn't mean the Sabres can't make a deal later. It's a stop gap – and a pretty good one at that.

Hecht is a versatile, puck possession forward. He can play on both ends of the ice as a center or winger, he can penalty kill and even fill play power play minutes if need be. His basic statistics (goals, assists) as slightly deceiving.

In terms of puck possession, there have been few better on the Sabres over the past several years. Actually, only one better. Jason Pominville. In '09-'10 and in '10-'11, Hecht ranked second on the Sabres in Corsi (possession) relative to Competition, only behind the Sabres' captain.

So even if he's playing a third or even fourth line role, Hecht's presence will help improve a major weak point for the Sabres.

In his last two full seasons, Hecht has also been one of the Sabres' top penalty killers. The Sabres were 19th in the NHL in penalty killing last year.

http://wgr550.com/Why-the-Hecht-Not--Stats-Say-Jochen-Makes-Sense-fo/15250514

Not surprisingly, Jochen Hecht’s Buffalo Sabres teammates are excited the popular 35-year-old veteran, who battled concussions last season, is rejoining the Buffalo Sabres for a 10th campaign.

“I’m glad he can find a place back here because he’s a very strong, smart player, and he’s been through a lot. I think he can definitely help us.â€

http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/teammates-thrilled-hecht-rejoining-sabres/

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I was hoping Buffalo could acquire a better C, but they didn't so with where they are now, and Hecht having played some quality and healthy hockey, it was a smart move. I don't expect him to make it to the end of the year, but by then other moves can be made if necessary.