Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - For the second time, defenseman Lawrence Pilut is leaving the Buffalo Sabres organization to play back in Europe.
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After helping lead the Rochester Americans to an impressive run in the Calder Cup Playoffs on the blue line, Pilut has signed a two-year contract to play in Switzerland with Lausanne HC in the National League.
Pilut returned to the Sabres organization last offseason after spending two years playing in the Kontinental Hockey League with Traktor Chelyabinsk. Buffalo had retained his rights as a restricted free agent when they tendered him back in 2020.
In 17 games with the Sabres this past year, Pilut scored one goal and added a pair of assists for three points. In 47 games in the American Hockey League, the 27-year-old scored three goals and added 25 assists for 28 points.
In the playoffs, Pilut became a staple on the Rochester blue line with three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 14 games. This included a key moment in the North Division Semifinal Round when the defenseman scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 5 of the series to help the Amerks advance past the Syracuse Crunch.
Pilut's time in North America was a mixed bag of success and struggles. He was, arguably, one of the best puck movers from the blue line during his tenure with the organization, but tended to stumble when pressured and challenged by the opposition in the physical department. However, he still produced well in Rochester, especially in his first years coming over from Sweden.
The Tingsryd native was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In his three seasons with the Amerks in Rochester, Pilut appeared in 114 games, scoring 13 goals and 64 assists for 77 points. He was also named a two-time AHL All-Star during the 2018-19 season and 2019-20 season.
In 63 games with the Sabres over three seasons, Pilut scored just two goals and added seven assists for nine points.
Pilut joined the Sabres organization during the 2018 offseason as a European free agent signing after being honored as the SHL Defenseman of the Year for the 2017-18 campaign with HV71.
