Why is everyone loving Hecht?

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

I've seen about 10 different posters now say "If Hecht was in there, we'd be winning", "Hecht would dominate out there", "We need Hecht", etc.

 

Has anyone watched Hecht over his career?

 

He is the EXACT type of player that everyone is complaining about. Some skill, but no leadership.

 

I would put Hecht in the same camp as Tallinder and Connolly. There is no heartbeat there. Not to mention he has 13 points in 31 career playoff games.

 

There are a few guys that play lukewarm in the regular season that step it up and try to make a difference in the playoffs. Lydman always does, I am really impressed with Kennedy's overall effort, Grier skates harder but his best days are behind him as he is a step off on the defensive side, Stafford was trying to make a difference but was out of it....there is hope for that kid if he had a mentor to learn from. Pretty much everyone else is playing their regular season game....and that would have included Hecht.

 

We need people to hit something and score goals. Not another penalty killer.

 

Sorry....had to vent on that

[DaFan]

I've seen about 10 different posters now say "If Hecht was in there, we'd be winning", "Hecht would dominate out there", "We need Hecht", etc.

 

Has anyone watched Hecht over his career?

 

He is the EXACT type of player that everyone is complaining about. Some skill, but no leadership.

 

I would put Hecht in the same camp as Tallinder and Connolly. There is no heartbeat there. Not to mention he has 13 points in 31 career playoff games.

 

There are a few guys that play lukewarm in the regular season that step it up and try to make a difference in the playoffs. Lydman always does, I am really impressed with Kennedy's overall effort, Grier skates harder but his best days are behind him as he is a step off on the defensive side, Stafford was trying to make a difference but was out of it....there is hope for that kid if he had a mentor to learn from. Pretty much everyone else is playing their regular season game....and that would have included Hecht.

 

We need people to hit something and score goals. Not another penalty killer.

 

Sorry....had to vent on that

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say we'd be winning the series, but I do think Hecht controls the puck on the boards and in the offensive zone a little better then some of the guys are showing/doing. He's not the savior at all. Last year he was horrible playing center but all in all this year he hasn't been bad. As for what he'd be doing or not doing in a series he isn't playing in I can't tell you my crystal ball is in the shop :)~

[jawj80]

I agree. Hecht blows. I've wanted to see him gone for a long time.

[Eric in Akron]

It is the speed that he brings to the team with those special skates of his. :pirate:

[jwcolour]

I wouldn't go so far as to say we'd be winning the series, but I do think Hecht controls the puck on the boards and in the offensive zone a little better then some of the guys are showing/doing. He's not the savior at all. Last year he was horrible playing center but all in all this year he hasn't been bad. As for what he'd be doing or not doing in a series he isn't playing in I can't tell you my crystal ball is in the shop :)~

 

^^ this.

[Buffalo Fan]

I've seen about 10 different posters now say "If Hecht was in there, we'd be winning", "Hecht would dominate out there", "We need Hecht", etc.

 

Has anyone watched Hecht over his career?

 

He is the EXACT type of player that everyone is complaining about. Some skill, but no leadership.

 

I would put Hecht in the same camp as Tallinder and Connolly. There is no heartbeat there. Not to mention he has 13 points in 31 career playoff games.

 

There are a few guys that play lukewarm in the regular season that step it up and try to make a difference in the playoffs. Lydman always does, I am really impressed with Kennedy's overall effort, Grier skates harder but his best days are behind him as he is a step off on the defensive side, Stafford was trying to make a difference but was out of it....there is hope for that kid if he had a mentor to learn from. Pretty much everyone else is playing their regular season game....and that would have included Hecht.

 

Agreed

We need people to hit something and score goals. Not another penalty killer.

 

Sorry....had to vent on that

[SwampD]

It was a mistake to play Hecht at center. It was an even bigger mistake to keep him there for as long as he was. But he has been having a very solid year. He's good in our own zone. He's a big body that doesn't necessarily hit all that much but he also doesn't get knocked off the puck as easily as others. I think some of the trouble we've been having leaving our zone (other than my usual reason which won't be mentioned until the offseason) is directly related to him not being in the lineup.

[Stoner]

Second in shorthanded ice time for forwards on one of the best penalty killing teams in the league -- that has to have some value in the playoffs.

[BlueNGold]

Funny you said that today...My Bro wrote me this comment about 2 hours ago....."Never been of huge fan of Hecht, but we sure could use him now and his +14 stat."

[todzilla]

I think Hecht has been good all year. Probably the top two way guy consistently. I think he would be making a difference. As for the OP saying that Lydman always steps up, I don't get it. He has been horrible this series, he must have turned the puck over a dozen times last night and his terrible play at the blue line in game two gave up the empty netter and sealed the deal.

[Stoner]

I think Hecht has been good all year. Probably the top two way guy consistently. I think he would be making a difference. As for the OP saying that Lydman always steps up, I don't get it. He has been horrible this series, he must have turned the puck over a dozen times last night and his terrible play at the blue line in game two gave up the empty netter and sealed the deal.

 

0 giveaways according to the stats.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

He may be harder to move off of the puck than (Ennis,Roy,Gerbe,Connolly,Pominville,Kennedy,) by default, but he NEVER stepped his game up in the playoffs before. I looked for it when he first came here because he looked like the type that would. A guy like Kotalik would go apeshit and try to run everything in sight until he took a stupid penalty and Ruff would hold him back. Hecht just did his thing.

 

Would he be an improvement at this point....yes. But that's like saying grilled chicken is tastier than tofu. I want some freakin steak!

[DR HOLLIDAY]

 

 

I would put Hecht in the same camp as Tallinder and Connolly. There is no heartbeat there. Not to mention he has 13 points in 31 career playoff games.

 

 

 

Thats actually pretty good, lol........ :beer:

[tulax]

I think an even more interesting question is who do you think Lindy Ruff misses more: Thomas Vanek or Jochen Hecht? I would have to believe it's Hecht. I've watched many games where the Sabres are down by a goal with less than 2 minutes left and Vanek is watching from the bench. In my opinion, for Ruff it's a matter of trust. Deep down he trust's many more guys than Vanek, some who don't have half of his offensive talent, to produce in the most crucial situations.

[K-9]

Bigger, stronger body with decent speed. If that's Hecht going into the corner with Recchi instead of Kennedy, that play to Bergeron doesn't happen. We need his muscle in the corners where our smurfs are getting beat up.

 

GO SABRES!!!

[todzilla]

0 giveaways according to the stats.

That seems hard to believe. Maybe not technically giveaways, but losing battles on the boards, pucks that jumped off the stick and failures to clear the zone were prevelant.

[UncleWally]

It is the speed that he brings to the team with those special skates of his. :pirate:

 

No, it's his vicious backhand shot. :o

 

 

But, it's actually gone in once or twice this season.

[darksabre]

It is the speed that he brings to the team with those special skates of his. :pirate:

 

T Blaaaaadddesssss

[Panic Prone]

Bigger, stronger body with decent speed. If that's Hecht going into the corner with Recchi instead of Kennedy, that play to Bergeron doesn't happen. We need his muscle in the corners where our smurfs are getting beat up.

 

GO SABRES!!!

 

Agreed! Hecht has good size and can really grind quite well. This is the time of year you need that type of play. I think Kennedy is great and is putting forth more effort then most of the team, but these smaller players are losing battles too often.

[matter2003]

I've seen about 10 different posters now say "If Hecht was in there, we'd be winning", "Hecht would dominate out there", "We need Hecht", etc.

 

Has anyone watched Hecht over his career?

 

He is the EXACT type of player that everyone is complaining about. Some skill, but no leadership.

 

I would put Hecht in the same camp as Tallinder and Connolly. There is no heartbeat there. Not to mention he has 13 points in 31 career playoff games.

 

There are a few guys that play lukewarm in the regular season that step it up and try to make a difference in the playoffs. Lydman always does, I am really impressed with Kennedy's overall effort, Grier skates harder but his best days are behind him as he is a step off on the defensive side, Stafford was trying to make a difference but was out of it....there is hope for that kid if he had a mentor to learn from. Pretty much everyone else is playing their regular season game....and that would have included Hecht.

 

We need people to hit something and score goals. Not another penalty killer.

 

Sorry....had to vent on that

 

Because Hecht is a good complimentary player with Pominville and Connolly...that line plays very well together. He also is a very solid two way player and can score some goals...he led the team in plus minus this year. Hecht scored 21 goals this year...not exactly a "penalty killer". Guaranteed he wouldn't have gotten slammed to the ground like Kennedy did on the winning goal...

[bunomatic]

If you had watched him this year you would realize what he has brought to this team this year.He's had a revival this year and I believe he was going to have a great playoff.He's the type where you don't know whats missing till he's out of the lineup.He's big and strong(which we need),he's a bull along the boards and hard to knock off the puck(which we need),he's found his scoring touch(which we need) and you can always use more depth(which we're finding out).

[LabattBlue]

If you had watched him this year you would realize what he has brought to this team this year.He's had a revival this year and I believe he was going to have a great playoff.He's the type where you don't know whats missing till he's out of the lineup.He's big and strong(which we need),he's a bull along the boards and hard to knock off the puck(which we need),he's found his scoring touch(which we need) and you can always use more depth(which we're finding out).

Agreed. The Hecht from the last couple of years is not the same player as the one from the last 50-60 games of the regular season.

[bob_sauve28]

I wouldn't go so far as to say we'd be winning the series, but I do think Hecht controls the puck on the boards and in the offensive zone a little better then some of the guys are showing/doing. He's not the savior at all. Last year he was horrible playing center but all in all this year he hasn't been bad. As for what he'd be doing or not doing in a series he isn't playing in I can't tell you my crystal ball is in the shop :)~

Exactly. This team needs all its parts to play at a high level, and missing Hecht is like its missing a building without nails or something. Sure, he isn't a mainbeam, or a founedation, but how can you hold the boards on with the nails?

[nfreeman]

If you had watched him this year you would realize what he has brought to this team this year.He's had a revival this year and I believe he was going to have a great playoff.He's the type where you don't know whats missing till he's out of the lineup.He's big and strong(which we need),he's a bull along the boards and hard to knock off the puck(which we need),he's found his scoring touch(which we need) and you can always use more depth(which we're finding out).

good post.

[Marvelo]

I'm just sick of the Sabres trying to score from the extreme corners and behind the net WAY TOO OFTEN and Hecht typifies this sneaky and rather pussified approach to scoring. I say dominate em with great plays, sustained pressure and bowl em over (including the goalie) in front of the net. F-this lucky to get one shot on and then done type of offense.