Is College Hockey the Best Place For Zeev Buium's Development?

When the Minnesota Wild drafted Zeev Buium 12th overall last year, experts lauded it as one of the best. Minnesota earned the only A+ in Corey Pronman's draft grades. The Wild have an elite prospect who will be exciting to track this coming season.

College hockey gains ground in development

Minnesota should be excited that Zeev Buium is developing in the NCAA during a golden era for college hockey. For most of NHL history, the most elite prospects almost exclusively played in the Canadian junior system or for professional leagues overseas. But that’s no longer the case. In the last decade, college hockey has exploded as a viable option for talented young players to develop into elite NHL prospects. 

That trend is evident in the NHL Draft. In the 2014 draft, only three players selected in the first round committed to spending time in the NCAA. The Detroit Red Wings took Dylan Larkin 15th overall, making him the first college player off the board. The 2024 draft was loaded with eight first-round picks who have either already played in college or are committed to doing so.

NCAA functions as a defenseman factory

The NCAA's impressive efficacy in producing NHL prospects has been a big story in hockey over the last several years. The college system has a penchant for churning out successful defensemen. In February, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski surveyed NHL front office staff on many topics, including who they believed were the best players at each position. Four of the top five defensemen (Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, and Charlie McAvoy) played at least two years of college hockey. 

What will Wild want to see out of Buium’s sophomore year?

College hockey is an excellent place for Buium to develop, but it's crucial to examine what the Wild want to see out of the Pioneers defender in his sophomore season. Buium's play at Denver will be among the most talked-about storylines this year, but not everyone is used to following the NCAA closely. Let's discuss how the Wild will measure their prospects' success this upcoming season and what the fans can look for in the young defender's growth as a player.

Before we dive deeper, it's important to note that advanced statistics in college hockey are not widely accessible. We'll use basic stats and qualitative data to create the most accurate picture possible. Let's quickly look at Buium's stats from his freshman season.

Zeev Buium

Comparison to other star defenders

With Buium's dazzling freshman season in mind, the best place to start analyzing his path next year is to compare how other elite NCAA defenders played in their sophomore season. Let's use the previously mentioned players among the top five defenders in the 2024 front office poll. 

Here's a look at the college careers of Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, and Charlie McAvoy:

What lessons can we learn from these players' second-year results? Generally, there is no blueprint for a defender's statistical progress. Three of the four improved on their point totals. On the other hand, Fox experienced a noticeable dip in production. 

Development isn’t linear

It's difficult to draw many conclusions from college hockey's rudimentary counting stats, but Fox's NCAA career teaches a crucial lesson. Development isn't linear. The Wild and their fans must prepare for a potential decrease in offensive output. 

Buium's freshman season may have been so impressive from a statistical standpoint that he can't improve the output. Since the 2000-01 NCAA season, Buium is only one of four defensemen to score 50 points and is the only freshman. His 39 assists were a freshman defenseman record. A slight step back in production could be disappointing but shouldn't be surprising. Fox's offense declined in his sophomore year but didn't hinder his progress. 

Besides the basic stats, what are some things that could signal healthy development for the Wild's 2024 first-round pick? 

Stabilizing a blueline

One sign that Buium is coming along would be his ability to stabilize a Pioneer blueline undergoing a lot of change. Buium's frequent defense partner, Sean Behrens, won't return next season after signing with the Colorado Avalanche. Zeev's brother, Shai Buium, is another defensive piece for Denver who won't be returning.

If Buium can lead the Pioneers to be one of the best defensive units in the nation again, it will go a long way in proving he's a steadying force for a team. Buium showed his offensive prowess last year in an environment with several experienced veterans to lean on. The Wild should be thrilled if he can come close to replicating that while being the team's new defensive leader. 

Taking on a leadership role

NHL teams also want their prospects to show leadership qualities. Unfortunately for Buium, Denver is returning their leadership group from last year. Because of the group's return, Buium likely won't wear a letter, but he can be a leader in other ways. Being a detail-oriented player sets an example for the team. 

Buium has all the skills to be a solid defender, and scouts often cite his hockey IQ as one of his main strengths. After the Wild drafted him, he singled out improving his defensive consistency, which he wanted to work on next season. Following through on that improvement would set an example for Denver and go a long way in showing Minnesota that they have a young leader on their hands. 

Contributing to a winning culture

Minnesota is trying to build a winning culture with its core of young players. This aspect of Buium's career can serve as a sign of development. 

"I chose the University of Denver because of the culture that is built in place,” Buium says on the Denver Pioneers’ roster page, “I believe this is the place you can come in and develop as both a student-athlete and person. Also, this is the place to come to when you want to win a national championship."

Buium already proved his intuition right last season when Denver took home the NCAA championship. The national title victory came months after he took home gold on the USA World Juniors team. It will be challenging to match a year like that, but the Wild already know they have a player who knows how to win. Strong showings in Denver's conference, the Frozen Four, and international tournaments can only be a plus to the player's maturation.

Outlook for Zeev Buium’s growth

As mentioned, digging too deep into college statistics is difficult because of the general lack of data available. Even without that, there are some clear ways the promising defender can show he's improving. What will you be watching for this season? What are the most essential things Buium can do to show the Wild faithful he'll develop into the elite defenseman they're hoping he’ll become?