There's plenty of room on the left side. He'd be 5-6 right now, and encourage a long-awaited Montour/Risto trade. Saves money, gets a better player, it's a win-win.
There's also opportunity to surge right past McCabe into the top 4. He just needs that chance. I'll pass on 'moving on' from a valuable asset just because the previous management was demonstrably idiotic.
1. Risto is unlikely to be traded ; Krueger is repeatedly on record saying he likes him a lot.
2. They just re-signed Montour , he also is not getting traded.
3. McCabe isn't even in the top 4 NOW.
Current rostered defensemen that would play over Pilut, in no particular order:
Risto
Miller
Montour
Dahlin
Jokiharju
McCabe
Pilut only plays if there is an injury or maintenance day. Otherwise he's in the press box. Which was his reason for leaving, he wanted to play, not watch.
4. The Sabres qualified Pilut, and thus continue to hold his NHL rights should he decide to leave the KHL. They have lost nothing. Their mistake was understanding that the kid wanted to see the ice, there was no room for him, and they should have traded him somewhere that he would play. Make the player happen, get a return for the asset.