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  • Zeev Buium’s Impact Goes Further Than the Stat Sheet


    Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
    Robert Brent

     

    When the Minnesota Wild drafted Zeev Buium at 12th overall, experts and fans lauded the pick as a draft steal. The excitement was well-founded. Buium put together one of the best freshman seasons as a defenseman in recent NCAA memory. His 50 points ranked as the second-best mark by an NCAA defenseman since 2009-10. Buium’s Denver Pioneers also won the National Championship, completing a storybook season.

    With such a successful first year in the college ranks, it’s natural to wonder how Buium could possibly improve in his second season. So far, he's avoided the sophomore slump and is fleshing out his game. Denver is undefeated, and Buium is playing a pivotal role, making fantastic offensive plays like the one below.

    While Buium’s headlines are positive, his impact on the scoresheet lags behind last year’s production. Buium has yet to find the back of the net through 10 games after tallying 11 goals in his previous campaign. While it may be easy to worry about smaller scoring numbers this year than last, Buium’s contributions go far beyond his (still-great!) point totals.

    Buium’s Role Is Maturing

    While discussing Buium’s drop in production is fair, there's no reason to be concerned. He's still producing elite offensive numbers with 10 assists in 10 games. Buium's lack of goals doesn't come from a lack of opportunity. The Wild prospect regularly dominates play and has 17 shots on goal. 

    Still, despite his outstanding play, there are some underlying reasons he's not scoring at the same rate as he did in his freshman season.

    Buium’s role with the Pioneers has grown. He dictates the flow of the game with his vision, skating, and passing. Buium is a mainstay on Denver's top pairing and often quarterbacks the powerplay. The prospect is shooting slightly less this year and is also seeing some of his usage go to Bemidji transfer Eric Pohlkamp. 

    Denver is using Pohlkamp as their triggerman for a lot of their offense, with the blueliner registering 39 shots on goal to Buium's 17. With a two-headed monster in Denver, Buium doesn't need to carry the load to the extent he did last season. The goals and points will come, but Buium has successfully settled into a distributor role. 

    Let's take a look at an example:

    In a straightforward but effective play, Buium enters a dangerous scoring area to draw a defender before making the right play, passing it to an open teammate. A player as talented as Buium might be tempted to take the space he's given and try to cut to the net. Instead, he lets his gravitational pull create an even more significant opportunity for a teammate. 

    The play above doesn’t go on a player's sizzle reel, but maturing as a hockey player often means forgoing those highlight opportunities for a higher-percentage chance. That's what Buium is showing in spades this year. Using not just his skills, but how those skills force opponents to play him, is making things easier for teammates and is the next level for him, offensively.

    Buium’s Skating and Creativity Shining

    One of Buium’s most alluring attributes is his ability to make creative plays with the puck using his hockey IQ and excellent skating ability. 

    “I love to be creative. I love to make plays. Obviously, when you’re doing that, you’re gonna mess up sometimes, but that’s the game. That’s hockey,” Buium said in an NHL.com draft profile. “For me, I love to be creative and try to find space for my teammates and myself, and when the puck is on my stick, I’m pretty confident that I can make a pretty good play.”

    Buium is getting to show that off even more in his sophomore season. In the early goings of this season, Buium is making tons of cerebral decisions that generate high-quality scoring chances. 

    Let’s look at Daniel Gee’s highlight package, head crossover scout at EliteProspects: 

    The reel above is a treasure trove of Buium’s impact plays that result in quality chances for himself or his teammates. He’s gotten incredibly crafty this season, using subtle moves to manipulate defenders and create space all over the ice.

    He’s also adept at getting his shot off with impressive puck control in tight windows. The first play in the reel encapsulates all of those abilities. Buium takes on multiple defenders, keeps the puck through skating prowess and stick handling, and ultimately dishes the puck to an open teammate for a high-quality chance that ends up in the back of the net.

    Buium’s Path Forward

    Buium isn’t putting up the numbers he did last year. However, if he continues to make plays like he has, he’ll start scoring more often. Still, Buium doesn't need to reach his freshman point totals to make progress. Buium may not score 50 points this year, but it's clear from how he's played this year that he has a path toward being an impactful player for the Wild. 

    Before he becomes a contributor in Minnesota, Buium needs to work on some things. He will probably simplify his game further at the next level. Buium is uniquely talented, but relying on plays where he skates through multiple defenders is a low-percentage play in the NHL. The first-round pick is a good defender, but he admits he wants to be better defensively. 

    "I think I'm not a shutdown defenseman, but I do take pride in that game. I want to be a guy that can play those big minutes." Buium said in the NHL.com profile. "For me, the guys at Denver, the coaching staff and players, everyone knows how much work I've put into it, how much effort we put into it. For me, it's just working on it every day and trying to perfect it."

    Minnesota’s front office must be excited about Buium's willingness to work to improve. His offense will likely always be his strongest skill, but Buium's attitude toward improving his all-around is a promising sign. Denver is a great program that churns out high-quality hockey players, and the NCAA has become a factory for producing elite defenders. His play has been excellent so far this season. All the pieces are in place for Buium to go from an exceptional prospect to an exceptional NHLer.

     

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    Both Rossi and Knut have stepped up this year.  I like that Knut has been given a shot to play up with Kirill a time or 2.  Tease him and make him want to take that extra step.   Rossi is definitely playing well, yet I still feel that he will continue to improve and has not plateaued yet.  The young guys are stepping up.  A bit more patience and additions of Yurov, Ohgrem and Buium could really set this team up to compete the next few years.

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    16 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I'm going to ask it here to: In the offseason, is Matthew Knies a target to offersheet for us? The more I think about it the more this looks like

    Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov

    Knies-Rossi-Yurov

    The thing that bothers me a bit is all these guys are LHS. But, jeez, that looks like a pick your poison top 6!

    I highly doubt they are going to let knies go. That dudes a stud.

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    26 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

    The young guys are stepping up.  A bit more patience and additions of Yurov, Ohgrem and Buium could really set this team up to compete the next few years.

    Just learned that Saturday Ohgren got himself a hatty. Toporowski got two goals in his first game back. 2 assists for Bankier.

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    14 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    not sure about Q1-3 but maybe he is not who we thought he was? here goes my Q to piggie back -

    Q4 - Is the talk about becoming a more rounded defensemen a bit of a switch to cover our behinds? yeah yeah he is still great but now instead of scoring, he does the LITTLE things. He is a student of the game. Did you miss Kimmy J? well you are in luck. shit i don't miss Kimmy and i was thinking that this was a steal of the draft? another Hughes or Makar? No? whowouldasunkit (move the kid with Rossi + Trenin for Brady or Tuch)

    Q5 - why was Mogilny skipped over? was Daniel Alfredsen better than him? Was Roenick or Weber? Shiiit he probably is better than 97.5% (yeah i've done the math) of players in HoF. oh well. i just wish i didn't loose a stick that had mogilny's name on it. 

    Q5 - 

    You have some of the goofiest and most half baked thoughts on here.

    Buium is a point per game player on a team that is undefeated and won it all last year. It’s common for some prospects to explode offensively then take the next year of development to focus on rounding their game so it better fits the next level. A point per game as a defenseman is still very very good.

     

    Do you catch it in the article when they said:

    “The prospect is shooting slightly less this year and is also seeing some of his usage go to Bemidji transfer Eric Pohlkamp.”

    So obviously he’s probably not getting as much chances as he did before. The coach is sharing the wealth. Pohlkamp is 20yrs old and also very talented. 

    Your question about “Maybe he’s not who we thought he was” is just ridiculous.

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    5 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    Denver is scoring 4.9 goals per game(up from 4.6 so far) and allowing 1.3(down from 2.7 so far). I think they're still a juggernaut. A 4-2 win over Wisconsin is the closest result so far, with all other games won by 3+ goals.

    They did lose Shai Buium(2021 2nd round pick for Detroit), but replaced him with Eric Pohlkamp, a strong(5'11", 201 lbs) defenseman from Baxter, MN, drafted in the 5th round by San Jose back in 2023.

    Some returning players like Zeev Buium might not be getting as many minutes early in the year while they are blowing out some opponents.

    Exactly 

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    4 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    That is silly to say. Even now - if you replace Rossi with Marat - he'll get the same production. And to me - Rossi has plateaud, while Marat's trajectory is still very much tbd. He might be our Fiala, much cheaper, and much more complete of a player. 

    The same production?? Marats shot is nowhere near as good as Rossi’s..Its just crazy to me that you think that but then again it’s coming from someone who doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. How has Rossi plateaued you goofball? He’s basically a point per game? And he hasn’t even entered his prime years. How’s Marat going to be Fiala when he doesn’t shoot and isn’t known for his shot?

    Statistics don’t lie and they are an excellent prediction on how they will succeed in the future as long as they don’t have any glaring holes in their game.

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    3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    You both are silly. Marat's role is different right now! He plays with Trenin! He plays on PK! But no let's compare him on ppg stats.....Measuring players using stats is not the only way to evaluate a player. 

    I am also not saying Marat is currently deserving of it, but he may be in talks next year, as he is playing better and better. Dude got skill and speed. 

    It's like Rossi is the sacred cow here. Be strong - Rossi will get traded soon and i don't want any tears!

    Go have another beer you goofball. Rossi put up 21g 20a on the 3rd line with scrubs for linemates and had no power play time. We’ve already had this discussion and you’ve forgotten it already. Ppl on this comment section are informed about this, you obviously are not.

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    1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

     

    You have some of the goofiest and most half baked thoughts on here.

    Buium is a point per game player on a team that is undefeated and won it all last year. It’s common for some prospects to explode offensively then take the next year of development to focus on rounding their game so it better fits the next level. A point per game as a defenseman is still very very good.

     

    Do you catch it in the article when they said:

    “The prospect is shooting slightly less this year and is also seeing some of his usage go to Bemidji transfer Eric Pohlkamp.”

    So obviously he’s probably not getting as much chances as he did before. The coach is sharing the wealth. Pohlkamp is 20yrs old and also very talented. 

    Your question about “Maybe he’s not who we thought he was” is just ridiculous.

    right.... my goodness - you build a shrine next to every prospect Wild draft? that's a lot of work! maybe wait and see first? 

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    49 minutes ago, Mateo3xm said:

    The same production?? Marats shot is nowhere near as good as Rossi’s..Its just crazy to me that you think that but then again it’s coming from someone who doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. How has Rossi plateaued you goofball? He’s basically a point per game? And he hasn’t even entered his prime years. How’s Marat going to be Fiala when he doesn’t shoot and isn’t known for his shot?

    Statistics don’t lie and they are an excellent prediction on how they will succeed in the future as long as they don’t have any glaring holes in their game.

    have you seen videos of marat's game in khl? maybe watch that before claiming something. and yes - being the beneficiary of kaprizov and zuccy dominance is not a bad thing. good for rossi. 

    stats don't lie - okay - let's talk Yurov - tell me genius - are we here saying that we can pencil in Yurov as the next Kuch? or maybe Matt Tkachuk? or maybe even .... dare i dream -> Nail Yakupov? no too tough to say and too great of a variance and too different of players? maybe then more info is needed? and maybe we say - that using only a numerical comparison / projection is a flawed way to analyze and compare players and people should take caution and combine that with their EYE analysis and other meaningful parts of the story, might be good to try, ha?

    image.png.d7c81cdc3971a31a3417427c6a2055e6.png

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    51 minutes ago, Mateo3xm said:

    Go have another beer you goofball. Rossi put up 21g 20a on the 3rd line with scrubs for linemates and had no power play time. We’ve already had this discussion and you’ve forgotten it already. Ppl on this comment section are informed about this, you obviously are not.

    i am already trying to forget our current discussion

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    I appreciate the diversity of opinion here. If we all had the same takes, it would be a pretty dull forum. Fortunately, we are all just spectators and cant influence management of the team (as much as we would like to sometimes). 

    I for one think Rossi is doing well at his position. Could it be better? Of course. Would some extra size and speed be helpful? Yep. 

    I wouldn't be sad at all if we held onto him, I think he is still growing as a player. That being said, if we trade him to get the perfect piece for the team, I'm down.

    Cheers to all.

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    18 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I'm going to ask it here to: In the offseason, is Matthew Knies a target to offersheet for us? The more I think about it the more this looks like

    Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov

    Knies-Rossi-Yurov

    The thing that bothers me a bit is all these guys are LHS. But, jeez, that looks like a pick your poison top 6!

    If they sign  Knies they will probably lose marner, who I think is having some locker room issues there if I recall correctly. either way would be a nice add imo. 

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