German pro team announces Jochen Hecht set to return to Buffalo Sabres on a one-year deal

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Forward Jochen Hecht is returning to play for the Buffalo Sabres after agreeing to a one-year contract, his German professional team has announced.

Hecht has spent this season playing for his hometown team of Adler Mannheim, which posted news of the player's signing with the Sabres on its website Friday. The team said he's prepared to travel to Buffalo on Saturday.

Hecht will rejoin the Sabres, where he's played for the past nine NHL seasons. His career has been slowed by concussion-related injuries. Last season, Hecht missed 60 games, including the final 34, because of concussions.

Sabres captain Jason Pominville spent part of the NHL lockout playing with Hecht in Germany. Pominville said this week that Hecht was healthy and interested in returning to play for Buffalo.