Jochen Hecht: 2010-2011 Report Card

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey began with Luke Adam and will conclude in a month with Mike Weber. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Step right up Jochen Hecht.

Jochen Hecht

#55 / Left Wing / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 21, 1977

Contract Situation: One year left on contract. A $3.525 million cap hit and $3.5 million salary

2010 Grade: A

Lowdown: First thing's first; you can't help but feel relaxed when Jochen Hecht is in the line-up. A versatile German with great two-way strengths, he's been a mainstay in Buffalo after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers eight years ago. It was a fair deal for both sides, as Edmonton received two second round selections from the 2002 draft and made good use of them - they picked up Jeff Deslauriers and Jarret Stoll. His homeland manufactures a few extravagant cars and Hecht is like a Volkswagen; not as fancy as the BMW or quick as the Porsche, just providing the mileage you desire and an appearance that's respected.

Key Stat: One third of Hecht's goals were game-winners, as he matched Drew Stafford's output with four deciding tallies. Tyler Myers and Thomas Vanek led the way with five. Although the veteran sat some games out and didn't build off a fantastic campaign in 2010, he still made his efforts count.

Did You Know? Hecht will face a homecoming of sorts in October when the Buffalo Sabres travel to Germany for an exhibition game with Adler Mannheim. For five seasons, the 33-year-old represented the club, so expect the crowd to extend him their courtesy with a standing ovation.

Moment Of Fame: Ending a gut-wrenching shootout in Montreal that reached ten rounds, while he also set up Jason Pominville's equalizer. Maxim Afinogenov must have taught him that deke in practice, as the Russian usually chose it for his break-aways.

Moment Of Shame: Had a 14-game goalless drought to begin the year, but his first marker was crucial to completing a comeback in Toronto. After falling behind 2-0, Buffalo pushed for two of their own goals and overtime solved nothing. Jhonas Enroth stood tall in the shootout and the win gave the club a little confidence, as they played better hockey in the upcoming matches.

Thumbs Up: Has a superb understanding with Pominville, as the two can often find each other on the ice with crisp passing. Is powerful on his skates and tough to budge, adding to his shorthanded credentials that Lindy Ruff admires. Produced 22 of his 29 points in the last 33 games, that he played anyway. Approaching 800 games and 500 points in his career, the latter will require at least two seasons most likely.

Thumbs Down: Spend significant time on the treatment table and his absence in the postseason hurt. Offensive numbers fell from previous year and his face-off technique needs adjusting if he is to play in the middle. Took a while to perform up to his standards, as he was invisible for a few months.

Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Jochen Hecht on his season according to the expectations you had for him. If he met them, give him a five or a six. If he eclipsed them, aim for a seven or beyond. If he failed to meet them, give him a lower number relating to how poorly he missed the target.

Topics Of Discussion: Is Hecht still a veteran you enjoy seeing with the Buffalo Sabres? Can he get back to being a 20-goal forward next season? At his age, are injuries going to hinder him more than usual? Positionally, do you prefer him on the wing or at center?