Thomas Vanek's leg and Tim Connolly's foot got the bulk of the concern during the Sabres' playoff loss to Boston, but it was easy to overlook Jochen Hecht's wrecked left pinkie as another major factor in the team's early exit.

Hecht had enjoyed a solid regular season as he pumped his goal production from 12 to 21, one off his career high, and his point total from 27 to 42. As a two-way player, he made major strides by taking his rating from minus-9 to plus-14.

Connolly, Hecht and Jason Pominville formed the Sabres' most effective line on many nights in the second half. Suddenly, Hecht was gone for the entire series. And it was a sour way to end a solid season.

"I focused on the way I played. The way it ended, there was nothing I could have done differently," Hecht said Monday in HSBC Arena. "There's no sense of looking back and being too frustrated with it. There's nothing I can change about it."

Hecht said his finger is still not completely healed and he still has to do rehab on it. There is no pain in the hand, however, so he doesn't anticipate any problems.

"He really helped make Connolly and [Jason] Pominville go when that line was together," said coach Lindy Ruff. "We had pieces missing and I think Jochen was a big piece. ... Missing him in different areas really hurt us."

Hecht's goals for this year are to continue his strong two-way play from the best bounce-back season of his career.

After a disappointing 2008-09 campaign, Hecht played 79 games last year, his most in seven seasons as a Sabre. He was a major reason Buffalo finished second in the NHL in penalty killing.

"Jochen may not be the most physical guy on our team but last year he played like one of our biggest forwards," Pominville said. "He's just as good offensively as defensively, protects the puck well in the corners and he's a threat on the ice. It was a big loss for our team."

With the addition of Rob Niedermayer, Hecht should be able to stay in his preferred slot at left wing and stay away from center. But Hecht knows he could get the call there if an injury crops up.

"I just want to play my game, be consistent," Hecht said. "Be the best two-way player on the team. That's my goal. I felt confident going into last year too. It was a dip in my career but I know I can play on this level. I can play well, be a big part of this team and that's my goal again this year."

***

Ruff said the Sabres will start the season with eight defenseman on their roster rather than risk exposing Mike Weber, Chris Butler or Andrej Sekera to waivers. All of them would need to clear to get back to Portland.

"You always look at it that you can never have enough defensemen," Ruff said. "It's always tough when you have extra around, but you get one or two hurt and that makes it tough on the team."

Tyler Myers, Craig Rivet, Steve Montador and newcomers Jordan Leopold and Shaone Morrisonn are locked in. Weber seems to have a good shot to claim the final spot in the rotation.

***

Today's activities will take place at the Northtown Center of Amherst (the former Pepsi Center). Practice is at 9:45 a.m. with the camp scrimmage championship at 11:45. Both are open to the public. Practice returns to the arena on Wednesday.

Team Seymour, backstopped by Ryan Miller, won Monday's scrimmage over Team Punch, 4-2. They will have a rematch today. Zack Kassian broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with a brilliant snapshot over the shoulder of Jhonas Enroth, and Cody McCormick added an empty-netter.

Kassian, Buffalo's No. 1 pick last year, continues to show strong offensive skills and Ruff said he will stay with the team at the start of the exhibition schedule rather than go back to junior hockey in Windsor, Ont.

"He's had a good three days," Ruff said. "That was a heck of a shot. That combined with his toughness is hard to find. He'll definitely play some games. I think he's earned that."

Connolly and Derek Whitmore scored to give Team Seymour a 2-0 lead but Cedrick Henley and Felix Schutz beat Miller to tie the game, the latter goal on a nifty feed from Vanek.

Team Seymour also won the shootout, 1-0, with the only goal scored by Paul Gaustad. Enroth had the puck in his pads but it squeaked through and went over the line. The camp referees first waved the goal off, then conferred and awarded it to howls of delight from Gaustad's team.