Hecht?

[HopefulFuture]

I agree with this. Hecht would fit great as a 3rd line center only because we are short on centers. Him and pominville have been playing for years and Lindy shouldn't break that up. He is still a good player as a two way forward. However, i hope that one of the younger guys steps up. I can't wait to watch the Amerks in ROCHAHACHCHAAAA

A majority of the time Hecht and Pomer's played together, they were wingers.

When Hecht was moved to center and played Pomer's on the wing, production for both dropped dramitacally.

Hecht as a viable 3rd line center isn't a strong suit for the team in my opinion, he plays much better on the LW.

 

But, I do agree, if we can find a servicable center for Pomer's and Hecht, there's your 3rd scoring line as well as a very decent shutdown line.

Just out of curiousity, what are the odds Leino is that center? Interesting thought to be sure.

[HopefulFuture]

Sorry, I could not resist that one.

 

I think Hecht-Gerbe-Pominville will be fine, and they'll close the games out with Hecht-Gaustad-Pominville as the defensive checking line when the game is tight. I'm fine with that. And, let's not forget, Hecht hit the 20 goal mark twice in his career, both times when his primary position was center. Something to think about.

I don't believe this is correct. His primary position was LW, not center. In the 09/10 season, Connolly was their center, and they each had decent years.

In the 07/08 season, Hecht played some games at center, but scored a good portion of his goals when Connolly was his center. He was forced to center after Connolly was injured in 07/08 and his production dropped off dramatically.

 

I'm not saying Hecht isn't a viable option at 3rd line center, just merely pointing out that Hecht/Connolly/Pomer's line was most productive when Hecht was on the LW.

[SabresFan526]

I don't believe this is correct. His primary position was LW, not center. In the 09/10 season, Connolly was their center, and they each had decent years.

In the 07/08 season, Hecht played some games at center, but scored a good portion of his goals when Connolly was his center. He was forced to center after Connolly was injured in 07/08 and his production dropped off dramatically.

 

I'm not saying Hecht isn't a viable option at 3rd line center, just merely pointing out that Hecht/Connolly/Pomer's line was most productive when Hecht was on the LW.

I'm not sure this is accurate. Connolly was hurt quite a bit during the 07-08 season. He only played 48 games. So, basically for half the season, Hecht was playing center between Clarke MacArthur and Jason Pominville. I thought he did well during that stint. I think we will need the game-by-game stats for each player to determine this. It's not that big of a deal to me.

 

With regards to the 09-10 season, Hecht actually started the year if you remember playing LW to Gaustad and Mike Grier. Lindy had all kinds of weird line combinations that year. At one point Hecht was playing with Kennedy and Grier. Then, he was centering a line with MacArthur and Pominville before MacArthur was traded to Atlanta. I think he even spent a little bit of time playing with Raffi Torres as well. I also remember that during the 09-10 season, Connolly spent a bunch of time playing with Pominville and MacArthur with Hecht on the third line with Kennedy. Connolly also spent some time on the wing with Roy and Vanek as well. So, in all of that line switching, Hecht probably played LW and C during that season and played pretty well. I think during the 07-08 season, he probably played quite a bit at C that season.

 

Either way, he's highly versatile, strong defensively, good on the PK and has scored 20 goals twice in his career. I don't see him going anywhere. That's my thought.

[ROCBuffalo]

A majority of the time Hecht and Pomer's played together, they were wingers.

When Hecht was moved to center and played Pomer's on the wing, production for both dropped dramitacally.

Hecht as a viable 3rd line center isn't a strong suit for the team in my opinion, he plays much better on the LW.

 

But, I do agree, if we can find a servicable center for Pomer's and Hecht, there's your 3rd scoring line as well as a very decent shutdown line.

Just out of curiousity, what are the odds Leino is that center? Interesting thought to be sure.

 

I am really curious as to how leino will pan out at center. He is going to be making a lot of money to be on the 3rd line. We need to get some proven centers. But maybe putting him with Pm and Hecht would help him at center with the chemistry they have.

[HopefulFuture]

I'm not sure this is accurate. Connolly was hurt quite a bit during the 07-08 season. He only played 48 games. So, basically for half the season, Hecht was playing center between Clarke MacArthur and Jason Pominville. I thought he did well during that stint. I think we will need the game-by-game stats for each player to determine this. It's not that big of a deal to me.

 

With regards to the 09-10 season, Hecht actually started the year if you remember playing LW to Gaustad and Mike Grier. Lindy had all kinds of weird line combinations that year. At one point Hecht was playing with Kennedy and Grier. Then, he was centering a line with MacArthur and Pominville before MacArthur was traded to Atlanta. I think he even spent a little bit of time playing with Raffi Torres as well. I also remember that during the 09-10 season, Connolly spent a bunch of time playing with Pominville and MacArthur with Hecht on the third line with Kennedy. Connolly also spent some time on the wing with Roy and Vanek as well. So, in all of that line switching, Hecht probably played LW and C during that season and played pretty well. I think during the 07-08 season, he probably played quite a bit at C that season.

 

Either way, he's highly versatile, strong defensively, good on the PK and has scored 20 goals twice in his career. I don't see him going anywhere. That's my thought.

I agree with your thoughts on him not going anywhere. And I also agree on your thoughts with regards to hooking him and Pomer's up again.

I don't see a major move for Hecht in the forseeable future, just my opinion though.

I would like to see him return to his 09/10 form though. Maybe a little roster stability combined with a re-uniting of him and Pomer's on a line may be what the doctor ordered, cause you are correct in that he was bounced around on lines quite a bit.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing what him and Pomer's can do with Leino at center, or another option, so long as the center can win over 50% of the faceoffs.

I have always been a firm believer in the mantra "Puck possession and control leads to good things". And to me in any event, that starts with the center doing the job in the faceoff circle.

[SabresFan526]

I agree with your thoughts on him not going anywhere. And I also agree on your thoughts with regards to hooking him and Pomer's up again.

I don't see a major move for Hecht in the forseeable future, just my opinion though.

I would like to see him return to his 09/10 form though. Maybe a little roster stability combined with a re-uniting of him and Pomer's on a line may be what the doctor ordered, cause you are correct in that he was bounced around on lines quite a bit.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing what him and Pomer's can do with Leino at center, or another option, so long as the center can win over 50% of the faceoffs.

I have always been a firm believer in the mantra "Puck possession and control leads to good things". And to me in any event, that starts with the center doing the job in the faceoff circle.

Completely agree with this. I think Hecht-Leino-Pominville line could be really good. The problem is, there is no one talented enough to then play with Ennis-Stafford, Vanek-Boyes or any combination there of besides Roy. This team still needs one more center in my mind. The depth they had from 05-07 will never be matched again when they had 5 natural centers in Briere, Drury, Gaustad, Connolly, and Roy with guys like Hecht, Mair, and Zubrus who were natural centers as well but didn't play center. That's the kind of center depth this team needs.

[nfreeman]

This.

 

Hecht is an excellent two way forward and that is what he has always been. We didnt pay him the money because we thought he was going to start being a first line center. He plays Lindy's game and he does it better than anyone else that has been on this team and thats why lindy is so in love with him. I for one have no problem with hecht playing as the third line center. Also going forward to next season, I think his contract is a bit high and if he takes a paycut then perfect. However, I sign him over gaustad every day of the week. Gaustad is overpaid and as the seasons go by he gets slower and his skating looks like garbage, I feel like the only thing he is good for at this point is taking the faceoff and skating directly to the bench for a change... maybe we could play it like in lacrosse ???

Well, I think the main reason Hecht got the contract he did is that he was in the right place at the right time -- ie he was up for a new deal at the moment when TG/LQ realized that they had to start keeping some of their FAs or else the team was going to plummet to bottom-5 in the NHL status. That was the summer of 2008, after the Sabres had lost Drury, Briere and Soupy out of sheer incompetence. They gave fat extensions to Miller, Gaustad, Hecht and Pommer, and each of those 4 is overpaid -- in Miller and Gaustad's case, by a bit, and in Hecht and Pommer's case, by a lot.

 

I do think that each of those 4 is a good player, and it was understandable that the Sabres felt that they needed to plug the holes in the lifeboat with wads of cash. The problem is that if you take the $2.75MM or so that Pommer is overpaid, the $2MM or so that Hecht is overpaid, the $1MM or so that Miller is overpaid and the $600K or so that Gaustad is overpaid (not to mention the $2.5MM or so that Vanek is overpaid) -- now you have $$ for another really good player.

 

As for Gaustad, I must disagree. I thought he was the Sabres' best forward in the playoffs this year. You are right that he isn't fast, but he does a lot of little things that contribute to winning. He played very hard, intense and physical, he set a tone indicating that the Sabres were not going to be intimidated by the Flyers and IMHO he earned the captaincy of this team.

[TheChimp]

As for Gaustad, I must disagree. I thought he was the Sabres' best forward in the playoffs this year. You are right that he isn't fast, but he does a lot of little things that contribute to winning. He played very hard, intense and physical, he set a tone indicating that the Sabres were not going to be intimidated by the Flyers and IMHO he earned the captaincy of this team.

I dunno about any of that, but your comments remind me of something I always find myself noticing when I peruse the team stats throughout the season. Hecht and Goose almost always have nearly identical stats, with Hecht kinda pulling away in the last few weeks of the season somehow. And then Goose has a decent playoffs and Hecht is a ghost. Just stuff I've noticed.

[FolignosJock]

As for Gaustad, I must disagree. I thought he was the Sabres' best forward in the playoffs this year. You are right that he isn't fast, but he does a lot of little things that contribute to winning. He played very hard, intense and physical, he set a tone indicating that the Sabres were not going to be intimidated by the Flyers and IMHO he earned the captaincy of this team.

 

 

I agree that he turned it on in the playoffs... but the regular season counts for something as well. I am not a gaustad hater by any means, I like the game he plays but I think Hecht is far and away the better player. I dont think this team has room for gaustad after this season. While every team needs playoff performers if you fill your team with more quality you are going to get the guys that step up. I hate that they pay gaustad that much money to win faceoffs because they could bring up Adam and I would expect him to score 20 more points than goose even as a rookie. I understand the little things that he does getting dirty in the corners, i remember him tying up the puck for days on a pk last year, and that stuff is awesome but other guys can do that for a lot less money. The only thing he does better than anyone on this team and a lot of guys in the league is win faceoffs. That alone shouldnt get a fourth line center paid that much. I also expect Burke to pay more for him next year because I think he has a man crush on him.

[FolignosJock]

I dunno about any of that, but your comments remind me of something I always find myself noticing when I peruse the team stats throughout the season. Hecht and Goose almost always have nearly identical stats, with Hecht kinda pulling away in the last few weeks of the season somehow. And then Goose has a decent playoffs and Hecht is a ghost. Just stuff I've noticed.

 

You know they were pretty much identical this year and that goose had more right, that does include hecht missing 15 games though...

[nfreeman]

I dunno about any of that, but your comments remind me of something I always find myself noticing when I peruse the team stats throughout the season. Hecht and Goose almost always have nearly identical stats, with Hecht kinda pulling away in the last few weeks of the season somehow. And then Goose has a decent playoffs and Hecht is a ghost. Just stuff I've noticed.

Well, Hecht did miss the last 2 playoffs with injuries.

 

I agree that he turned it on in the playoffs... but the regular season counts for something as well. I am not a gaustad hater by any means, I like the game he plays but I think Hecht is far and away the better player. I dont think this team has room for gaustad after this season. While every team needs playoff performers if you fill your team with more quality you are going to get the guys that step up. I hate that they pay gaustad that much money to win faceoffs because they could bring up Adam and I would expect him to score 20 more points than goose even as a rookie. I understand the little things that he does getting dirty in the corners, i remember him tying up the puck for days on a pk last year, and that stuff is awesome but other guys can do that for a lot less money. The only thing he does better than anyone on this team and a lot of guys in the league is win faceoffs. That alone shouldnt get a fourth line center paid that much. I also expect Burke to pay more for him next year because I think he has a man crush on him.

Gaustad does a lot more than win faceoffs. There's a reason he was 2nd in ice time among Sabres forwards in the playoffs this year.

 

Hecht probably has a bit more game than Gaustad, but Gaustad is something that the Sabres are in short supply of: a forward who plays 15+ minutes per game (he may be nominally the 4th-line center, but between the PK, a bit of PP and 3rd period lockdown mode, he plays quite a bit more than that), who brings some physicality and intensity to the game and who will fight the other team's big guys when needed. The Sabres don't have anyone else who fits that bill in their top 9, let alone their top 6.

 

I don't think replacing Gaustad with Adam (or any other rookie) is feasible. Leaving aside face-offs, none of the rookies is in the same ballpark with Gaustad in terms of defensive zone play or the PK.

 

Gaustad may be a bit overpaid, but only by $500K or so. It's not that much. Hecht, although he's a pretty solid player, has a much worse contract -- he's overpaid by about $2MM. I'd be happy to keep Hecht on the team after this contract is up, but only at a big pay cut.

[FolignosJock]

Gaustad does a lot more than win faceoffs. There's a reason he was 2nd in ice time among Sabres forwards in the playoffs this year.

 

Hecht probably has a bit more game than Gaustad, but Gaustad is something that the Sabres are in short supply of: a forward who plays 15+ minutes per game (he may be nominally the 4th-line center, but between the PK, a bit of PP and 3rd period lockdown mode, he plays quite a bit more than that), who brings some physicality and intensity to the game and who will fight the other team's big guys when needed. The Sabres don't have anyone else who fits that bill in their top 9, let alone their top 6.

 

I don't think replacing Gaustad with Adam (or any other rookie) is feasible. Leaving aside face-offs, none of the rookies is in the same ballpark with Gaustad in terms of defensive zone play or the PK.

 

Gaustad may be a bit overpaid, but only by $500K or so. It's not that much. Hecht, although he's a pretty solid player, has a much worse contract -- he's overpaid by about $2MM. I'd be happy to keep Hecht on the team after this contract is up, but only at a big pay cut.

 

 

I agree with all of this, I know he does the little things. I dont think he is very good on the PP or the PK though, he is good defensively in 5 on 5 situations because it is harder to exploit his weak skating ability. I dont see him on this team after this year and if this year is any inclination as to what will happen in free agency I bet he gets a raise next year. I do see hecht having a spot here he is a good third line center and while he is overpaid now if he has a good year where he can stay healthy and put up 50-60 points (which I dont think is much of a stretch) I can see him being resigned for a little less money. Kassian and Adam get spots next year that is my thinking and with both of them on the fouth line it easily replaces everything that gaustd does and adds so much more potential.

[RazielSabre]

I've always liked Jochen. He's a veteran presence who can play wing or center. He quietly led the team in even-strength goals two years ago (and +/-) and was 6th in ES goals last year. He is pretty good along the wall, can hold up in a physical game, is good defensively (career + 93). Plus, he's only the 7th highest paid forward on the team, which isn't unreasonable given his tenure in the league. Personally, I think he's a solid third-liner and I've never understood why so many dislike him.

 

Agreed, but we're to deep. He'd go down a treat on a team like Edmonton or the Islanders. Either ditch Pomiville and keep Hecht for 3rd line 2 way forward or use pomiville as the 3rd liner. Maybe not Pom but someone like that.

[nfreeman]

I agree with all of this, I know he does the little things. I dont think he is very good on the PP or the PK though, he is good defensively in 5 on 5 situations because it is harder to exploit his weak skating ability. I dont see him on this team after this year and if this year is any inclination as to what will happen in free agency I bet he gets a raise next year. I do see hecht having a spot here he is a good third line center and while he is overpaid now if he has a good year where he can stay healthy and put up 50-60 points (which I dont think is much of a stretch) I can see him being resigned for a little less money. Kassian and Adam get spots next year that is my thinking and with both of them on the fouth line it easily replaces everything that gaustd does and adds so much more potential.

I expect Gaustad to be back and Hecht and Boyes to be gone, with one of their slots being taken by Adam or Kassian (whoever has a better year this year) and the other by an expensive new center. We shall see...

[korab rules]

Sorry, I could not resist that one.

 

I think Hecht-Gerbe-Pominville will be fine, and they'll close the games out with Hecht-Gaustad-Pominville as the defensive checking line when the game is tight. I'm fine with that. And, let's not forget, Hecht hit the 20 goal mark twice in his career, both times when his primary position was center. Something to think about.

 

Why insert Gaustad other than for faceoffs - Gerbe is a far superior defender than Gaustad. He is faster, skates better, plays with more tenacity, and is more likely to score on the off chance it results in a breakaway/scoring opportunity in those dying minutes. In those situations, Gaustad should take the defensive zone faceoff and immediately change.

[FolignosJock]

Agreed, but we're to deep. He'd go down a treat on a team like Edmonton or the Islanders. Either ditch Pomiville and keep Hecht for 3rd line 2 way forward or use pomiville as the 3rd liner. Maybe not Pom but someone like that.

 

Are you high lol??? We have three centers on the entire team and then a bunch of guys that are good at bending over and looking at red dots.

[Ben Miller]

Just to whoever would get rid of Pominville and keep Hecht:

Pominville is a million times better thank Hecht. Pominville had 52 points and Hecht only had 29! And besides I can't go a whole season with out hearing RJ announce a Pominville goal! "The population in Pominville just got bigger" or something like that...

[FolignosJock]

Just to whoever would get rid of Pominville and keep Hecht:

Pominville is a million times better thank Hecht. Pominville had 52 points and Hecht only had 29! And besides I can't go a whole season with out hearing RJ announce a Pominville goal! "The population in Pominville just got bigger" or something like that...

 

 

You're 15

[korab rules]

You're 15 12

 

Fixed that for you :thumbsup:

[FolignosJock]

Fixed that for you :thumbsup:

 

Haha kids these days. I didnt mean to be an a** but donteatyellowsnow is really getting to me in the enroth thread

[spndnchz]

You're 15

 

Or maybe a fan with a different perspective than salary, cap hits and the draft?

[FolignosJock]

Or maybe a fan with a different perspective than salary, cap hits and the draft?

 

 

I apologize chz i took out my anger on the young lad when it was really meant for donteatyellowsnow.

 

:oops:

[RazielSabre]

Are you high lol??? We have three centers on the entire team and then a bunch of guys that are good at bending over and looking at red dots.

 

4th line is ok, then we got Roy, Adam, Gausted, possibly Leino. I just think his not worth waiting to see if he actually has a better season, we have options now. Even through trade.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Austrian.

 

Hecht is a decent two way player that puts forth good effort. He's never appeared to me to be an effective offensive threat to opponents. It always seemed like he underperformed in this area, but not as mush as Connolly (lack of effort sometimes) or Grier (lack of hands/skill sometimes). I think he wears the 'A' because he's an alright veteran presence on a younger team and he works pretty hard. I imagine he'll have a similar role going forward: decent option for a hard working 3rd line or occasional 2nd line winger and time on the PK.

Hecht is a mediocre two way player!

[Eleven]

Freeman--one correction: Campbell was lost out of intelligence, not incompetence. There's no way he should have had anything NEAR the deal he got in Chicago. And that includes 5X5, and even 5X4. The guy was a decent puck-mover and had one great hit. For years, I was groaning every time his skates hit the ice, until he finally figured it out. He was not a big loss at all.