‘As soon as Traktor’s season ended, Pilut and his fellow imports began their exodus home. For the three months that followed, Pilut tried to get out of the final year of his contract in Russia. Negotiations dragged on for months. But in the end, he got his wish. And as soon as the Sabres received confirmation, General Manager Kevyn Adams signed Pilut to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 in the NHL.’