Jochen Hecht is getting healthier for the Sabres, and coach Lindy Ruff said when the center is finally ready to return from his concussion, he has a spot in the lineup waiting.
"Jochen, when he’s healthy, will have a spot," Ruff said following practice today in First Niagara Center. "Jochen is getting better. The next step for Jochen is to get involved in full practices and be able to take body contact, which right now he isn’t."
Ruff made it clear that if Luke Adam continues the fine start that produced two goals and two assists in the opening two games, it won't be Adam that sits for Hecht. Adam is centering left wing Thomas Vanek and right wing Jason Pominville.
"I’d say right now it’s pretty tough to take Luke out of the lineup," Ruff said. "He’s played well. We’ve played him there the last few games, and we got a good response. It’s given us a good offensive line. There’s no reason to change that."
To hear the rest of Ruff's chat, including his thoughts on the remodeled dressing room that was unveiled today, click the audio below.
---John Vogl
