Article: Zeev Buium Used the World Stage To Build Anticipation For Next Season

[Up North Guy]

I suggest that size for defenseman is most needed in clearing the front of the net and reducing injuries. It is important.

[mnfaninnc]

4 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

I vehemently pre-qualify to your statement: size doesn’t matter if they can’t skate or have decent handle. If it is as you say, why don’t teams put a bunch of NFL offensive linemen on the ice? (Because players have to skate and handle, too.) If size were the magic bullet, Jiricek would have been a top-line d-man already.

Where am I discounting skating and handling here? I'm not saying develop stone hands and quit skating. I'm saying get up to 200 lbs. That not exactly a redwood, but is a competing body. It takes large bodies a little extra time to redevelop their stride which is what Andy Ness is trying to do with Jiricek. When we're finished, he could be our Parayko.

My issue is that we've drafted a bunch of undersized players who are smooth skating puck moving defenders that do not build their bodies into NHL size. We've already seen the results in a Ryan Murphy or Calen Addison. That is usually the outcome of an undersized, puck moving player. 

I will be interested to see how Montreal's Hutson survives. He got a lot of points, can he defend. In our system, that is non-negotiable, and therefore, my opinion that to be effective, Buium's got to bulk up. Lambos has had to bulk up. Faber needed to bulk up. O'Rourke more than anyone needed to bulk up. Peart needed to bulk up, and Spacek to a degree also needed to. 

They should have come to my strength workouts, but we've got guys who can lead them. Both Ek and OgZ are very familiar with the weight rooms. 

[FredJohnson]

47 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'm not saying develop stone hands and quit skating. I'm saying get up to 200 lbs.

I’m saying not every player has to get up to 200…see Makar.

[mnfaninnc]

12 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

I’m saying not every player has to get up to 200…see Makar.

And I would put Makar in the unicorn tier. Buium is not in that tier. Plus, Makar plays in a different system where he has a better chance of them playing to his skill set. The requirement to defend is less in a Colorado/Dallas type of system. Blackwood/Oettinger are tasked with bailing them out. With Goose, the defense is tasked with bailing him out.

[PNW Wild]

On 6/4/2025 at 10:30 AM, mnfaninnc said:

And I would put Makar in the unicorn tier. Buium is not in that tier.

Buium is not in that tier yet, but his stats, size and history depict a similar trajectory. And listening to Judd Bracket, I think it isn't far fetched. Obviously professional scouts don't all see that type of trajectory for him, or he would have gone first over all. But, I think that is the best case outcome, and one that isn't unrealistic. And even if he doesn't hit 200lbs but has a Jared Spurgeon or Jonas Brodin career that is an incredible outcome. 

And if the system doesn't suit a potential superstar, maybe the system is broken... even though the Panthers play a grind type of game I bet they would be more than happy to accommodate Makar. You build around the talent and team you have. 

Also, if Zeev hits 200lbs it could make him LESS effective. Even if it is muscle he might not be able to use his skill as effectively. And he has shown some flashes of having that type of skill that would overcome his less than perfect NHL size. And his teammates were already raving about what he can do, with just a snapshot of him on the NHL ice. The skies is the limit for the kid... let's see if he gets there and stop. trying to make him into something he is not. 

[Enforceror]

3 hours ago, PNW Wild said:

Also, if Zeev hits 200lbs it could make him LESS effective.

This. I think every player is unique and has an ideal weight for their body type/play style. Hartman lost weight during last off season so he could improve his skating, speed and endurance. Lots of factors. While generally I agree that being stronger is beneficial, you have to find that sweet spot. The body doesn't always react well to having extra weight. It can be hard on joints, tendons, etc. 

[FredJohnson]

On 6/3/2025 at 1:20 PM, mnfaninnc said:

I disagree wholeheartedly with this statement, although the weight must be strength weight and not couch weight. It specifically important to a defender who has to be able to minimalize all sorts of forwards.

Then you’d have Jiricek playing. Great size and even some skill but a lack of skating ability makes him a liability. Size isn’t everything. Gotta have skill first then add usable weight, if possible.

[mnfaninnc]

7 hours ago, Enforceror said:

Hartman lost weight during last off season so he could improve his skating, speed and endurance.

Would you agree or disagree that Hartman's regular season was disappointing with that weight loss?

[mnfaninnc]

6 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Then you’d have Jiricek playing. Great size and even some skill but a lack of skating ability makes him a liability. Size isn’t everything. Gotta have skill first then add usable weight, if possible.

I would have had Jiricek playing around March, but he injured his spleen. I didn't see his skating as terrible, I thought he could keep up. Of course he's much better going forward, but his size helps compensate for his skating. I also would have started him at 3rd pairing D on the right side in the playoffs. 

Buium might be a prodigy. But he's not right now. The biggest thing he can control and do is to bulk up. 200 lbs. isn't going to make him slower or less skilled, it's going to give him more tools in his tool belt. I also don't believe he would have gone 1st overall, Makar went 4th. Whoever took Nolan Patrick was the big loser in that draft. For him to be complete, he needs the strength and the weight. He will be better with it.

[Enforceror]

16 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Would you agree or disagree that Hartman's regular season was disappointing with that weight loss?

Yes but I doubt that's why. Could be though. All I'm saying is I think there is an ideal weight for everyone.

[FredJohnson]

On 6/20/2025 at 12:44 PM, Enforceror said:

I think there is an ideal weight for everyone.

Amen!!

[FredJohnson]

On 6/19/2025 at 10:00 AM, PNW Wild said:

Also, if Zeev hits 200lbs it could make him LESS effective.

Hallelujah! Thank you!

[FredJohnson]

On 6/19/2025 at 8:41 PM, mnfaninnc said:

200 lbs. isn't going to make him slower

It very well might! Plus some people's frames (bone density and joints specifically) can't handle too much weight even if it is all muscle.

[FredJohnson]

On 6/4/2025 at 9:30 AM, mnfaninnc said:

Makar plays in a different system where he has a better chance of them playing to his skill set.

So, is it possible for us to play a similar "system "?

[FredJohnson]

On 6/19/2025 at 8:41 PM, mnfaninnc said:

Of course he's much better going forward

He kinda sux (compared to NHL standards) at going backwards...which is what defenders need to do. 🤔