The Buffalo Sabres have recalled defenseman Lawrence Pilut from the AHL’s Rochester Americans, per a team release Tuesday afternoon.
This is Pilut’s first recall since clearing waivers back on December 30, 2022. He failed to make the Sabres out of camp but was recalled just days into the regular season, recording a goal in three points in 17 games over the course of more than two months.
Pilut returned to the Sabres this season after two years with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, remaining on Buffalo’s reserve list all the while. An undrafted free agent signing out of Sweden in 2018, Pilut was issued a qualifying offer upon the expiration of his entry-level contract in 2020 but did not accept, instead opting for more playing time in Russia.
It’s unclear whether Pilut’s recall means more injury troubles for the Sabres on defense. Mattias Samuelsson and new acquisition Riley Stillman are both day-to-day with upper-body injuries.
Pilut has had a somewhat productive season in Rochester, recording 19 points in 30 games. It’s still a step back from his rookie year in North America, where he hovered near a point per game in the minors and earned a 33-game stint in Buffalo.