BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - When it came time to name the Sabres
captain, coach Lindy Ruff decided it's too much responsibility for
one player to replace departed leaders Chris Drury and Daniel
Briere.
That's why Ruff announced Tuesday the Sabres will rotate their
captaincy on a monthly basis, starting with veteran forward Jochen
Hecht, who was selected following a vote by his teammates. A native
of Germany, Hecht is an eight-year NHL veteran entering his fifth
season with the Sabres, and he becomes the third European to wear
the `C' in Buffalo.
Hecht is the first to take over after the Sabres lost
co-captains Drury and Briere to free agency in July. Buffalo is
also minus its incumbent assistant captain, defenseman Teppo
Numminen, whose status is uncertain after he had surgery last month
to repair a faulty heart valve.
"We really felt that even with the co-captains we had
tremendous leadership everywhere," Ruff said. "And the reason
their leadership was so strong was because they had tremendous
support from the room. And I want to use this as a motivational
tool."
Ruff used the rotating captaincy in 2003-04.
"I think Jochen brings everything," Ruff said. "He's a strong
voice in the room and he's been through all the battles with us. I
think he'll be good with our younger players. And it's
well-deserved."
Ruff added he hasn't yet determined which players will serve as
assistant captains when the Sabres open the regular season hosting
the New York Islanders on Friday.
"It's a great honor and privilege," Hecht said. "We've got a
lot of guys in the room that speak up and talk. I'll just try to be
a leader on the team, leader on the ice and set a good example for
all the young players."
Hecht is soft-spoken but has proven to be a valuable two-way
player for the Sabres, who have reached the Eastern Conference
finals in each of their past two seasons.
He matched a career-high with 19 goals last season and produced
a career-high 56 points in 76 games.
Goaltender Ryan Miller backed Hecht.
"He's put a lot of time in becoming a good player and he's the
kind of guy you look to every night," Miller said. "He's ready
for a role like this."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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