I think it's less about saving face than getting a first hand look and being able to evaluate his progress. Looking at KHL video is not the same as seeing and working with him first hand.
Bjarnason's clock starts next season when he goes to the AHL, Zavragin probably comes over in 2027-28 (3 year KHL deal). Ersson and Fedotov are in the NHL.
If you play out Kolosov's deal in Minsk, you won't be able to have him work with your goalie coaches (a strength of the organization) and have to make a decision in 2026-27 when he's a RFA with less information than you'd like.
We lost Stolarz b/c a knee injury meant he wasn't ready for NHL when they had to make a decision.
It's not just about Kolosov, it's also about the decision to extend Ersson and/or Fedotov.