288 replies to this topic

[thewookie1]

Is he planning to retire? Did his test results ever come out?

[biodork]

thewookie1, on 01 July 2012 - 09:55 AM, said:

Is he planning to retire? Did his test results ever come out?

According to one of the articles on SS today, he's been cleared by his doctors. IMO he should retire... 3 concussions in a year or so at his age (not that 35 is old, but for a hockey player)? Not worth risking another one and jeopardizing his ability to enjoy life later on. Shame to see he and the Sabres part this way, though.

[Sabres Fan In NS]

biodork, on 01 July 2012 - 10:04 AM, said:

According to one of the articles on SS today, he's been cleared by his doctors. IMO he should retire... 3 concussions in a year or so at his age (not that 35 is old, but for a hockey player)? Not worth risking another one and jeopardizing his ability to enjoy life later on. Shame to see he and the Sabres part this way, though.

I agree he should retire.  He was a good and loyal soldier for the Sabres.  Sad ending, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

[Potato]

He signed with a German team, no?  Mannheim (his home town)?

[Spndnchz]

COSabre, on 01 July 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

He signed with a German team, no?  Mannheim (his home town)?

Mannheim says if he wants to play for them he's got a job.

http://translate.goo...werden-1.625047

[Rico7]

spndnchz, on 01 July 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Mannheim says if he wants to play for them he's got a job.

http://translate.goo...werden-1.625047

Is that the team the Sabres played in Europe last year?

[Spndnchz]

Rico7, on 01 July 2012 - 03:35 PM, said:

Is that the team the Sabres played in Europe last year?

Yup

[Eleven]

Rico7, on 01 July 2012 - 03:35 PM, said:

Is that the team the Sabres played in Europe last year?

spndnchz, on 01 July 2012 - 03:38 PM, said:

Yup

Yup again.  It's his home club.  He's always loved them, and they, him.  They had a tribute for him even though he couldn't play in Mannheim, and if that's where Hecht is headed, I think it's awesome.  It's a very respectable way to finish a nice, but not great, career.  Good for him.

[nobody]

Maybe the Sabres should sign him for $1M and then send him to Mannheim.

[bob_sauve28]

Another of the old core team gone. It was time for him to go...never really lived up to what he seemed capable of doing...just like the rest of the teams here in Buffalo he played on

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

spndnchz, on 01 July 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Mannheim says if he wants to play for them he's got a job.

http://translate.goo...werden-1.625047

[Eleven]

bob_sauve28, on 03 July 2012 - 09:40 PM, said:

Another of the old core team gone. It was time for him to go...never really lived up to what he seemed capable of doing...just like the rest of the teams here in Buffalo he played on

I think that he lived up to exactly what he was capable of doing.  Hecht was a third-line forward capable of scoring on occasion but always capable of settling the game down, dictating tempo, and being responsible defensively.  He's the hockey equivalent of a middle-inning reliever, and every team needs guys like that.  The problem comes if you expected him to be either a major goal scorer or a major hitter; he is neither of those things and never was going to be.  He had a nice career.

[Taro T]

Eleven, on 04 July 2012 - 08:18 AM, said:

I think that he lived up to exactly what he was capable of doing.  Hecht was a third-line forward capable of scoring on occasion but always capable of settling the game down, dictating tempo, and being responsible defensively.  He's the hockey equivalent of a middle-inning reliever, and every team needs guys like that.  The problem comes if due to the contract his agent was able to negotiate you expected him to be either a major goal scorer or a major hitter; he is neither of those things and never was going to be.  He had a nice career.

You missed the bolded, but other than that, spot on.

Annnnd, he was still willing to go towards the front of the net after Soupy ripped a chunk of his ear off with one of his slappers.

[716]

G'bye $4 million paycheck.

[dudacek]

Yep, to Eleven.
Hecht was a good soldier.
The haters wanted him to be something he wasn't it.
But he was pretty good at being what he was.
Hope his head is OK and (NHL) retirement treats him well.

[Potato]

Two or three years ago, Hecht quietly led the team in even strength goals.  The guys who get the power play time (Vanek, Pommer, etc.) tend to put up the bigger stats, of course.  But, Hecht was a pretty good 5-on-5 player for a lot of years in this league.  IMHO, he was always under-rated by Buffalo fans.

[thanes16]

Ghost of Dwight Drane, on 03 July 2012 - 11:06 PM, said:

I can't imagine the amount of time/money put into that. It was well done! It'd be funny if the movie Deck the Halls inspired them to do that.

[IKnowPhysics]

I'm going to go ahead and wish him happy NHL retirement.  I hope he gets some time in with Mannheim and a shot at Team Germany in 2014.

He was never short on work ethic, and if you told me he'd play nine seasons for the Sabres and often put up 50 points, I'd trade two 2nds for him again.

[Peppy22]

Hecht had a good career. I think he always wrked hard for Buffalo. Injuries and other stuff got in the way. People wanted him to be number 1 center but thats not would he could be. he was a solid forward who you could easily rely on in key situations of the game. Wish he would have a found a job wihtin the sabres organisation but sadly that didnt happen.

[LaLaLaFontaine]

Eleven, on 04 July 2012 - 08:18 AM, said:

I think that he lived up to exactly what he was capable of doing.  Hecht was a third-line forward capable of scoring on occasion but always capable of settling the game down, dictating tempo, and being responsible defensively.  He's the hockey equivalent of a middle-inning reliever, and every team needs guys like that.  The problem comes if you expected him to be either a major goal scorer or a major hitter; he is neither of those things and never was going to be.  He had a nice career.

For a German he had a great career. Together with Uwe Krupp and maybe Olaf Koelzig he was one of the best German hockey player all time. I would love to see him in Mannheim next year, to end his career where it began.

[fan2456]

I was more than happy with him as a player and I thought he was under rated by the fan base.  He was a good penalty killer and responsible at both ends of the ice. He filled in at center and gave us all he had.  He wasn't physical or a top 6 forward, but that was on Regier, not him.  He was one of our top six forwards in recent years, and again who's fault was that?  Certainly not his.  If he continues to play in Germany, I wish him the best and hope he stays away from concussion problems.

[IKnowPhysics]

fan2456, on 05 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

... I thought he was under rated by the fan base.  He was a good penalty killer and responsible at both ends of the ice. He filled in at center and gave us all he had.  He wasn't physical or a top 6 forward, but that was on Regier, not him.  ....  If he continues to play in Germany, I wish him the best and hope he stays away from concussion problems.

Agreed with all of this.

[Meathead]

hecht always had duty to play against the opponents best players and he did it well. i for one will miss him

[Peppy22]

http://i8.photobucke...-lecavalier.jpg

made me laugh very had back then

[nfreeman]

Hecht was a solid player, albeit ridiculously overpaid.  The Sabres missed him quite a bit vs. Boston & Philly in the playoffs.

[Taro T]

nfreeman, on 10 July 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

Hecht was a solid player, albeit ridiculously overpaid.  The Sabres missed him quite a bit vs. Boston & Philly in the playoffs.

All of the above is true.  Probably would have been appreciated by the fanbase if he was paid more appropriately, but it's not his fault that his contract came due after bloody Sunday nor that he was the 1st in-season negotiation of the Golisano era that actually came to fruitiion.  (They had definitely negotiated w/ Drury in season the year before but sat on the deal.   That and Drury missing the open net early and then Soupy clearing the puck over the glass in Game 7 are the 3 biggest do-overs I'd like from that era.)

[Spndnchz]

Garth: #55 has signed a two year deal to play for Adler Mannheim, his hometown squad.

[d4rksabre]

Spndnchz, on 11 December 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

Garth: #55 has signed a two year deal to play for Adler Mannheim, his hometown squad.

Good. Hope he enjoys what is left of his hockey career. He'll always be our German.

[Vanek-Man]

Spndnchz, on 11 December 2012 - 11:58 AM, said:

Garth: #55 has signed a two year deal to play for Adler Mannheim, his hometown squad.

Joins Doug Janik and Jason Pominville. Although, reading inbetween the lines, Mannheim may know something (via Pommer?), since losing Pominville back to Buffalo with lockout ending, they are using his cash on Hecht now... i highly doubt they can afford both Pominville and Hecht for the long haul...

[Spndnchz]

He does have an opt out clause with the German team just in case an NHL team calls.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Eleven, on 04 July 2012 - 08:18 AM, said:

I think that he lived up to exactly what he was capable of doing.  Hecht was a third-line forward capable of scoring on occasion but always capable of settling the game down, dictating tempo, and being responsible defensively.  He's the hockey equivalent of a middle-inning reliever, and every team needs guys like that.  The problem comes if you expected him to be either a major goal scorer or a major hitter; he is neither of those things and never was going to be.  He had a nice career.

A mediocre middle inning reliever.

[IKnowPhysics]

He worked hard and played well on the PK.


SH vs WAS:

http://www.youtube....h?v=WFi10-SpLuw

Edited by IKnowPhysics, 12 December 2012 - 03:04 PM.

[716]

goodbye and good luck to The Mannheim Mercenary.

[Spndnchz]

Word from his hometown team is Hecht has signed a one year deal with the Sabres.  Can't report until CBA is done Sat. 8am.

Quote

Jochen Hecht has accepted a contract offer until end of season the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) and the eagles leave with immediate effect.  Jochen Hecht has for the Eagles completed six DEL games, scoring five goals and eight assists.

Born in Mannheim is tomorrow, on Saturday get on the plane and already in Iserlohn no longer in the squad are the eagles.

We wish you success in Buffalo Jochen Hecht and thank him for his efforts in recent weeks.

We've got cap space.  Nice to have a back up.  IMO Doesn't hurt.

[Eleven]

Spndnchz, on 11 January 2013 - 07:38 AM, said:

Word from his hometown team is Hecht has signed a one year deal with the Sabres.  Can't report until CBA is done Sat. 8am.



We've got cap space.  Nice to have a back up.  IMO Doesn't hurt.

Amen.

[Spndnchz]

Eleven, on 11 January 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

Amen.

Just keep him out of the top six.

[Eleven]

Spndnchz, on 11 January 2013 - 07:42 AM, said:

Just keep him out of the top six.

I'm fine with that.  I want him on the third line.  Here's a translated article:

http://translate.goo...6200000&act=url

[billsrcursed]

Agreed. I always felt he was undervalued by fans. As long as the price is right, and of course he can stay healthy, this is a smart and important move for the team.

[wjag]

I would rather season an AHLer than bring Hecht back.  I don't care how well he is playing in Germany.  It's hard to recast the team when you continue to cast them with the same old, same old.

[Eleven]

wjag, on 11 January 2013 - 08:20 AM, said:

I would rather season an AHLer than bring Hecht back.  I don't care how well he is playing in Germany.  It's hard to recast the team when you continue to cast them with the same old, same old.

They don't have an AHLer at center who is ready to play in the NHL right now.