Eleven Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I know he wants to, and I get that his kids consider Buffalo their "real home" per the article linked below. But geez, guy, it's your life at this point. Go coach in Germany (or even in the minors here). Stay off of the ice. A good guy, a decent role-player on a few teams, but it's over. I want him to move on for his own sake. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/article803429.ece
darksabre Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I understand the sentiment Eleven, but if he passes his tests and wants to return, I give him the opportunity. Better here than anywhere else? If he goes down again, at least his recovery would take place in Buffalo instead of whatever city another team would be in. I think if the Sabres don't bring him back though, that he'll retire.
X. Benedict Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I can't imagine him on the roster for another year. It's time. Better to let a player go a year too early than a year to late. In Hecht's case...it was already a year too late. Hope he lives a happy life.
Ross Rhea Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I can't imagine him on the roster for another year. It's time. Better to let a player go a year too early than a year to late. In Hecht's case...it was already a year too late. Hope he lives a happy life. Have heard that before and how true it is. Wish more sabre fans would adopt this policy.
LTS Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Hecht is a solid player who won't be your liability on the ice. I wish he wasn't suffering from 3 concussions in 12 months but he is and that's a big risk to the rest of his life. I would like to see him sit out at least half the season and perhaps come back if he is truly feeling good. It's worked for other players. Still, he should never risk the rest of this life for a few extra months on the ice.
RazielSabre Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Thank you Mr. Hecht for your time here, but please retire for your own and your families sake.
Punch Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I really like Hecht. He was skilled enough to get top line minutes with Daniel Briere and responsible and tough enough to play a shutdown role. Very diverse and balanced player with terrific hands. He could have been the difference in the Boston series in 2010, the Philly series in 2011 as well as this past season when our defensive play struggled with injuries. But that's just it: 3 years in a row where he missed significant time to injury. It's hard to imagine him being suddenly able to stay healthy--- not to mention, concussions are scary.
Tyrannustyrannus Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Jochen Hecht was one of my favorite Sabres ever. I hope to see him play again.
That Aud Smell Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 i have a lot of love for the smooth-skating german and what he brought to the franchise. but i just can't imagine the team bringing him back.
dudacek Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 If Jochen wants third-line money I think we have to kiss him goodbye. But if he's cleared medically and willing to play for Rob Neidermeyer money then it's well worth the gamble. Loves Buffalo, great work habits and dude can play.
TrueBlueGED Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I don't bring back Hecht under any circumstances. Simply can't continually employ that big of an injury risk....if the team got rid of LaFontaine because of worries about concussions, they can sure as hell get rid of Hecht. Aside from that, if Hecht ever plays again, he's either dumb or very ignorant on the long-term consequences of concussions. You've made plenty of money, you're still in good health, and you've got a family man. It's not worth it.
darksabre Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 If Jochen wants third-line money I think we have to kiss him goodbye. But if he's cleared medically and willing to play for Rob Neidermeyer money then it's well worth the gamble. Loves Buffalo, great work habits and dude can play. This is how I see it. The only real risk is to his own health and I'm not the one who can be the judge of that. It's up to him and the Sabres.
Weave Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I hope Hecht retires for his own good. But if he insists on coming back, do we even have a spot for him at this point? It is another case of opportunity costs. What kind of team are we going to have moving forward? Do we keep a 3rd line with Roy at center and move Hecht into that LW? If so, where does Leino fit? Do we want an energy line with Hecht on it? That sounds like another concussion waiting to happen IMO. Does Vanek move to RW and put Hecht in as Thomas' LW? Do we keep him in reserve and use a roster spot for him to sit in the pressbox until an injury clears a spot? I guess where I am going with this is, as much as I think he was a good player to have, it seems to me that the makeup of the team is moving away from Hecht, so even if he is healthy enough to give us a full season I am not sure he's a good fit anymore unless Lindy/Darcy is trying to go back to the just-after-lockout model. And I don't think that is a good idea.
apuszczalowski Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I don't bring back Hecht under any circumstances. Simply can't continually employ that big of an injury risk....if the team got rid of LaFontaine because of worries about concussions, they can sure as hell get rid of Hecht. Aside from that, if Hecht ever plays again, he's either dumb or very ignorant on the long-term consequences of concussions. You've made plenty of money, you're still in good health, and you've got a family man. It's not worth it. They employed Connolly for how long? And who are you to be able to determine how smart/dumb Hecht would be for continuing his career because of some concussions? Have you been able to evaluate him personally and determine how severe these concussions are? Should Crosby hang up his skates cause hes had a couple concussions recently and almost missed the entire season? If he wants to come back and the Sabres want to bring him back, I say why not, if he will sign for a low amount until he can prove he is over his concussion issues. If not, I say let him go and see if theres someone willing to give him more on the open market.
TrueBlueGED Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 They employed Connolly for how long? And who are you to be able to determine how smart/dumb Hecht would be for continuing his career because of some concussions? Have you been able to evaluate him personally and determine how severe these concussions are? Should Crosby hang up his skates cause hes had a couple concussions recently and almost missed the entire season? If he wants to come back and the Sabres want to bring him back, I say why not, if he will sign for a low amount until he can prove he is over his concussion issues. If not, I say let him go and see if theres someone willing to give him more on the open market. I'm not a doctor, and I don't have access to his personal records, but you don't have to in order to read about how dangerous repeated concussions are. Just read about what Marc Savard, Eric Lindros, and others, are going through as a result of concussions. To me, it's not worth the risk. Hecht has had a full career, played a lot of years and made a lot of money...now go be with your family and live a normal life, the health risks aren't worth attempting to come back. And if Crosby suffers another severe concussion, then yes, I'm of the opinion he has to at least seriously consider retiring early. Plus, from a practical standpoint, I completely agree with Weave's take on his fit with the Sabres.
Randall Flagg Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I'm not a doctor, and I don't have access to his personal records, but you don't have to in order to read about how dangerous repeated concussions are. Just read about what Marc Savard, Eric Lindros, and others, are going through as a result of concussions. To me, it's not worth the risk. Hecht has had a full career, played a lot of years and made a lot of money...now go be with your family and live a normal life, the health risks aren't worth attempting to come back. And if Crosby suffers another severe concussion, then yes, I'm of the opinion he has to at least seriously consider retiring early. Plus, from a practical standpoint, I completely agree with Weave's take on his fit with the Sabres. This... I think from a purely hockey standpoint, the fewer "leaders" on this team from 07-11 the better.
spndnchz Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Don't want him as much as I love him. I don't want LR or DR putting him at center, which they'll no doubt do. IMO it will a sign that they're moving on when they don't sign him or Gaustad.
IKnowPhysics Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 He's a good player with a good work ethic. If he passes his tests and sees himself ready, he should play. I'd like to see him finish his career, if that's in the cards. But not in Buffalo. There's an opportunity cost to keeping Hecht that I think outweighs the benefits of keeping him. In simpler terms, there's better or cheaper players available, either in the pool of recent call-ups, in Rochester, in free agency, or in the trade market. And those available players wouldn't tie his level of salary to his risk of injury. There's some comparison to Connolly that you could draw up (without the rampant laziness). Connolly was good in points per game, but he was injured, so we signed him again. Then he didn't perform to expectations, and we regretted the signing. He goes to another team, gets a raise to $4.75M/year, and then plays even worse (36 points in 70 GP as Leaf, 3rd among Leaf centers; -14, 2nd worst among all Leafs). Let Hecht get a raise, he deserves one for having his squash busted up. But that raise should be somewhere else, and the Sabres should move forward with another player.
dudacek Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Hecht is not getting a raise. If he passes medically he will get a shot somewhere. But not for anywhere near what he is making now.
Eleven Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Posted April 11, 2012 There's an age difference between Hecht and Connolly, too. Hecht is 35 and I'd really hate to see things end the wrong way for him. My post, at least, has nothing to do with whether he fits with the team or makes too much money, and everything to do with wanting to see the guy survive his hockey career well.
shrader Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 There's an age difference between Hecht and Connolly, too. Hecht is 35 and I'd really hate to see things end the wrong way for him. My post, at least, has nothing to do with whether he fits with the team or makes too much money, and everything to do with wanting to see the guy survive his hockey career well. That's the real key here. The road to a comeback is a much longer one because of his age.
nobody Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 Don't want him as much as I love him. I don't want LR or DR putting him at center, which they'll no doubt do. IMO it will a sign that they're moving on when they don't sign him or Gaustad. Center on the '1st line' no less.
dEnnis the Menace Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I always took Hecht, and his defensive forward mindset for granted. It wasn't until middle of this season that I realized that this team needs a couple more guys like him. I like Jochen, and if he can stay healthy, i wouldn't mind him coming back playing on the third line with the likes of Roy and Pommers, as well as on the PK.
Campy Posted April 11, 2012 Report Posted April 11, 2012 I'm clearly in the minority here - I haven't been a fan of Jochen's in a few years. Maybe my expectations for him were too high? He does seem like one of the good guys, and I wish him the best in whatever he decides - or is decided for him.
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