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Zeev Buium is expected to play his sophomore year at the University of Denver, where he’ll be defending their championship title. Buium is expected to make his NHL debut in 2025-26, when the Minnesota Wild’s cap crunch will be over. Buium will be more polished as a prospect, and the Wild can ease him into playing top-four minutes.
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler believes Buium will become a potential NHL star. Wheeler ranked Buium as his fourth-best prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft, but he recently dropped to 12th. Buium isn't a big defenseman like Anton Silayev and Sam Dickinson, and he isn't a top-six projected center, which explains why he dropped. Buium has shown more potential than the Hughes brothers and Owen Power in college, highlighting his upside.
Buium is getting similar buzz to Brock Faber, who finished as a Norris trophy finalist behind Connor Bedard. However, Buium has been getting more buzz based on his offensive upside rather than Faber’s dynamic defensive game.
How can Wild captain Jared Spurgeon help Buium’s development?
Spurgeon, 34, only has two years left on his contract, and he can leave a legacy by mentoring Buium to be his heir apparent. Spurgeon will allow Buium to create offense because Spurgeon can play with any kind of defenseman. He can carry the load defensively, and Buium can help support Spurgeon’s defense by breaking the puck out of the defensive zone once Spurgeon breaks up initial plays.
Wheeler mentioned that Buium’s defensive game has significantly improved, especially when he showcased his defense against powerhouses like Boston College and Boston University, indicating that he won’t be a defensive liability.
What kind of matchups will Spurgeon and Buium face? Jonas Brodin and Faber will be able to handle the top pairing load by going up against top-six competition and top-four pairings. If anything, Spurgeon and Buium will face a middle-six competition and a bottom-four pairing. Sometimes, the Wild will ask him to take the burden off Brodin and Faber.
Buium projects to shine on the top power-play unit and push Faber to the second unit, qualifying the Wild as a Stanley Cup contender. Buium should be able to translate his puck-moving talents. Head coach John Hynes will likely play Buium with Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy, and either Mats Zuccarello, Marco Rossi, or Danila Yurov, who is also expected to arrive in 2025-26.
Wheeler’s expecting Buium to become a prime 60-point scorer in the NHL. But what happens when you add the scoring punch in Kaprizov? Buium could surpass 70 points just by assisting on Kaprizov’s goals. Buium should benefit from having a superstar by his side to make a true difference. Regardless, it is refreshing to see the Wild pick up a prospect who can be one of their MVP candidates and future locker-room voices.
Buium won't have to worry about playing many top-four minutes because he can rotate minutes with Jake Middleton. Middleton has more size and physicality, not to mention currently playing with Spurgeon. If Buium happens to struggle, Middleton will be able to take some of his shifts.
Middleton's contract terms may not be exciting to Wild fans. Still, Middleton can help Spurgeon mentor Buium, including helping Buium improve his physical game, even though he’s not 6’3” or taller. Thanks to his versatility, there might be some nights when Hynes will have Buium play on the right side next to Middleton in case the Wild want to load-manage Spurgeon. To keep Spurgeon healthy, Minnesota might not play him all 82 games.
Wheeler’s insight should inspire optimism among Wild fans, but we must still temper our expectations. Zeev's status suggests he possesses a rare combination of offensive creativity and defensive acumen. Comparing him to established players like Faber adds credibility to the assessment.
Buium’s exceptional freshman year and ability to handle tough situations against elite competition ensures that he is talented and capable of performing at a high level when it matters most. Wheeler's projection of a 60-point upside reflects his belief in Zeev's potential for significant contributions at the NHL level and eventually a Stanley Cup.
Overall, Wheeler shows a sense of excitement about Zeev's future, positioning him as a player to watch closely as he continues to develop. With Spurgeon mentoring him, Buium will be ready to break into a star once he retires. Wheeler highlights the importance of offensive and defensive skills in modern hockey, suggesting that Zeev’s well-rounded game will make a difference.
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