The Minnesota Wild got a solid boost to their blue line this season by adding 2024 first-round pick Zeev Buium to the mix. There was no doubt he was a solid prospect when the Wild drafted him 12th overall. But it’s been a surprise to see him this good, this soon.
At 19, Buium has already made an impact at the NHL level. He’s stepped into a full-time role and looks poised to become a fixture in Minnesota’s defense core.
His play has even led to early speculation that he could be a dark horse candidate for the Calder Trophy this season.
An anonymous Western Conference source was quoted in an October 23 piece published by RG Media as singing Buium’s praises. The source stated:
“Buium has been exactly as advertised really, a perfect offensive defenseman that is already playing over 20 minutes for the Wild. His defensive game still needs work, but he’s already showing improvements there.”
That’s high praise for a rookie who isn’t even old enough to drink. The thought is that playing with one of the NHL’s best in Kirill Kaprizov has accelerated his learning and development. That situation prompted the source to declare:
“Getting regular shifts on the power play with Kaprizov is going to really help his stat line, but it’s the details in his game that make him so fun to watch.”
Indeed, Buium, like Brock Faber, is part of an emerging Wild defensive group that promises to make a significant impact for the Wild for some time to come.
Wild getting money’s worth from Zeev Buium
The numbers for Zeev Buium over his first 10 NHL games look solid. He’s got two goals and six points for eight points. Those numbers would be impressive for a rookie forward. But they’re even better for a rookie defenseman.
Buium has shown why he was among the best defensemen in the 2024 NHL Draft class. Despite the strong offensive numbers, the minus-8 rating shows why the anonymous source pointed out the shortcomings in Buium’s defensive game. As such, the Wild will need to be patient as the defensive side of his game pans out.
It’s worth pointing out that defensemen generally require a bit more seasoning before becoming NHL mainstays. Unlike forwards, blueliners have additional dimensions to their game that often demand more honing.
But then again, the Wild have the luxury of time and patience with Buium. The Wild are not quite Stanley Cup favorites yet. So, the team can afford to let Buium, and Faber for that matter, grow into the roles the team envisions for them.