Sabre Noise
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Checking in on the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects currently playing overseas

By Ryan Brennan

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 27: Arttu Ruotsalainen #22 of Team Finland skates during the IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary round game against Team Denmark at the Bell Centre on December 27, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team Denmark defeated Team Finland 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 27: Arttu Ruotsalainen #22 of Team Finland skates during the IIHF World Junior Championship preliminary round game against Team Denmark at the Bell Centre on December 27, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team Denmark defeated Team Finland 3-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – MARCH 30: Lawrence Pilut #24 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on March 30, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Sabres 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Buffalo Sabres lost Lawrence Pilut when he signed a two-year contract with the Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. He still looks good.

Lawrence Pilut was one of those players everyone was excited about, but he broke everyone’s heart when he decided to end his stint with the Buffalo Sabres and seek a bigger role in the KHL.

Pilut was signed to an entry-level contract by Buffalo in May of 2018. He was coming off a season in the SHL where he led all defenseman in the league with 38 points — he scored 8 goals and had 30 assists. It was a season-long performance that earned him SHL Defenseman of the Year honors.

It was his final season in the SHL after playing five straight seasons in the league. He ended that chapter of his life with 191 games in the SHL, all with the same team (HV71). He’s a unique defenseman that knows how to push the puck and make plays.

Hot. Rochester Americans make flurry of changes to roster and staff. light

He even showed that talent with the Buffalo Sabres for two years. He spent a total of 67 games with the Rochester Americans and another 46 with the Sabres. In the AHL, he recorded 10 goals and 39 assists. In the NHL, one goal and 5 assists.

He was offered more ice time and a bigger role in Russia, which was the reason he made the move to the KHL. He has played in 9 games for the team and has yet to score his first goal, though he does have 5 assists.

I wouldn’t rule out a return to the NHL at some point, but for now Lawrence Pilut seems focus on developing in the KHL and taking advantage of the role he has there.

It should be good for a player that has a lot of good hockey in front of him.

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We really hope you enjoyed this blog about our beloved Buffalo Sabres. We look forward to continuing the conversation with the best fans in the world down below in the comments section. 

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