Prospect Info: 12th Overall 2024 Draft, LHD Zeev Buium

[MuckOG]

The last time this fanbase was this united (not to mention deliriously happy) was when the Wild got past the first round. It was freaking rainbows and glitter in that draft thread last night.

July 4, 2012

 

[GJF]

Bu-yah.

Buium-Faber until I hit retirement, baby.

Jets fan here. So jealous about this. Disgusting.

Congratulations!

 

[BagHead]

I love the thought.

I don't think we could have done any better this year. And that's not a pat on the back for Mr Big balls or Brackett. Feels rather gifted other than trading up 1 spot to secure him.

I'm going to have to count my chickens before they hatch to make this point, but...

They recognized his talent, and made a trade to get him. There was luck involved, as there is with most success in life, but competence was still required to capitalize on it. If competence was not required, the Flyers would have taken him instead.

I don't love Guerin, but credit where it's due.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

They're so happy too...

Brackett:

Brackett after Day 1 | Minnesota Wild

Brackett recaps Minnesota's first round

www.nhl.com

Guerin:

Guerin after Day 1 | Minnesota Wild

Guerin recaps Minnesota's first round

www.nhl.com

 

[Prior]

Only better result they could have asked for is coming away with Demidov.

Buium was extreme wishful thinking and Iginla was a cross your fingers and maybe it could happen.

Buium changes the entire makeup of the Wild’s backend going forward. A 5-8yrs stretch of prime years from an elite top pair of Buium-Faber is the stuff of dream scenarios for teams. Championship level pieces. I think Buium sees NHL time this year when Denver’s season is over. And likely never looks back much like Faber

 

[57special]

I don't value fighting extremely high, but I did very much enjoy what he did to that Nashville guy towards the end of last year (Lauzon I think?). I'd like to keep that element around at least a little bit, if it's not an exorbitant amount. And I don't think 4 x $4M is exorbitant.

To me, this is not the Foligno situation 2.0

Once this year and it's cap penalties are over, 4M to Middleton is not an issue. I have plenty of time for him and his throwback game.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

I guess I'll be the counterpoint to the enthusiasm. I do like the player and the value of the pick. But I will keep my eyes on the 3rd and Luchanko (and Helenius, my preference). Buium has upside, for sure, but he certainly didn't pop for me like Quinn or Luke Hughes did, as a guy with can't-miss elite skill. Buium looked good, but there's a bit of carelessness in his game, along with average physicality. When you talk about a defenseman with top-four potential, that also includes Cup finalists such as Brandon Montour or Cody Ceci. The Wild are still a long way away from a competitive blueline.

Just imagining Billy G on the phone with Briere: "who are you guys thinking?" "why, who do you like?" "Buium." "Oh, that's our guy too." "Dangit, how about a fourth to swap?" "Make it a third." "Done."

 

[57special]

I love the thought.

I don't think we could have done any better this year. And that's not a pat on the back for Mr Big balls or Brackett. Feels rather gifted other than trading up 1 spot to secure him.

But we were the only team who did trade up to get Buium. Every other team could've. I give Guerin a big for recognizing the situation, and reacting in real time.

Counterpoint to counterpoint. Buium scored at historic levels, and was a major reason that his team won a national championship. While he is of average size, he's thick, and not small. Also has decent defense, though it can use work. I think he is a superior player to Parekh, and at least the equal of Levshunov. Only dmen i would rather have had were Dickinson and Silayev, and even those are a maybe, and of a different type.

 

[TaLoN]

Round One Draft Pick Trade | NHL.com

Breaking down the trade between the Wild and Flyers

www.nhl.com

 

[keppel146]

But we were the only team who did trade up to get Buium. Every other team could've. I give Guerin a big for recognizing the situation, and reacting in real time.

Counterpoint to counterpoint. Buium scored at historic levels, and was a major reason that his team won a national championship. While he is of average size, he's thick, and not small. Also has decent defense, though it can use work. I think he is a superior player to Parekh, and at least the equal of Levshunov. Only dmen i would rather have had were Dickinson and Silayev, and even those are a maybe.

BG even said that it was Brackett that made the call to move up

 

[Wasted Talent]

Just imagining Billy G on the phone with Briere: "who are you guys thinking?" "why, who do you like?" "Buium." "Oh, that's our guy too." "Dangit, how about a fourth to swap?" "Make it a third." "Done."

I wouldn't be surprised if Guerin and Brackett were more worried about some other team trading up to 12

 

[Saga of the Elk]

I wouldn't be surprised if Guerin and Brackett were more worried about some other team trading up to 12

Honestly, a third is a small price to pay for a player some had as the second best prospect in this draft.

 

[Bazeek]

I guess I'll be the counterpoint to the enthusiasm. I do like the player and the value of the pick. But I will keep my eyes on the 3rd and Luchanko (and Helenius, my preference). Buium has upside, for sure, but he certainly didn't pop for me like Quinn or Luke Hughes did, as a guy with can't-miss elite skill. Buium looked good, but there's a bit of carelessness in his game, along with average physicality. When you talk about a defenseman with top-four potential, that also includes Cup finalists such as Brandon Montour or Cody Ceci. The Wild are still a long way away from a competitive blueline.

Just imagining Billy G on the phone with Briere: "who are you guys thinking?" "why, who do you like?" "Buium." "Oh, that's our guy too." "Dangit, how about a fourth to swap?" "Make it a third." "Done."

On the last point I think Briere could outright say "Luchanko", which is GM-speak for "I could trade back multiple spots and still get my guy, and credibly have one other team on the line to jump in front of you."

 

[Circulartheory]

After experiencing my high and I calmed down...I have Buium is our #3 prospect behind Yurov and Wallstedt.

He is an excellent puck mover, not a rusher or creative PP wizard but moves the puck out of the zone extremely quickly and smartly. He isn't going blow past players to rush into the zone but he's good on his edges and will move along the blueline very quickly with edges and agility.

But I love him because he's the best all-round package in the defensive prospects available after Levyshunov. I would argue he's the smartest out of them all (smarter than Levyshunov, definitely smarter than Yakeumchuk, Parekh, and Silayshev) and he's going to be an agile 6-0 195lbs, not some undersized guy.

This guy isn't a Makar or Hughes. But i've read comparisons on Morrissey/Fowler/Forsling and I think those are about right. Smart, two-way guys with above average offensive skills, enough to man a PP and produce 35-45 points, not a true #1 but a great #2. Faber will be the #1 guy.

 

[NHL1674]

July 4, 2012

It's a little sad to think back on how excited and walking on sunshine we were that morning. Today, we're counting down the days for those cap penalties to be gone. Uff-da.

 

[57special]

After experiencing my high and I calmed down...I have Buium is our #3 prospect behind Yurov and Wallstedt.

He is an excellent puck mover, not a rusher or creative PP wizard but moves the puck out of the zone extremely quickly and smartly. He isn't going blow past players to rush into the zone but he's good on his edges and will move along the blueline very quickly with edges and agility.

But I love him because he's the best all-round package in the defensive prospects available after Levyshunov. I would argue he's the smartest out of them all (smarter than Levyshunov, definitely smarter than Yakeumchuk, Parekh, and Silayshev) and he's going to be an agile 6-0 195lbs, not some undersized guy.

This guy isn't a Makar or Hughes. But i've read comparisons on Morrissey/Fowler/Forsling and I think those are about right. Smart, two-way guys with above average offensive skills, enough to man a PP and produce 35-45 points, not a true #1 but a great #2. Faber will be the #1 guy.

I'm hoping Fox. I see a lot of similarities.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I'm hoping Fox. I see a lot of similarities.

He reminds me so much of fox

 

[DANOZ28]

hopefully not already posted article could be steal of draft. MSN article quotes russo saying wild offered WPG #13 for mcroarty but pulled offer when buium was still available. interesting.

 

[Wild11MN]

I don't follow draft-eligible prospects at all, so I'm never familiar with anyone outside of the top couple of picks, but the near-universal positive reaction to this is pretty cool. I'm thrilled since everyone else is.

 

[57special]

He reminds me so much of fox

TBH, he is much better than Fox at a similar age - no one foresaw Fox being what he became. Fox is similar to Fabes, in that respect, but stylistically, agree about Fox= Buium.

Fox playing for Harvard made him hard to get a read on. Fox= Healey?

I don't follow draft-eligible prospects at all, so I'm never familiar with anyone outside of the top couple of picks, but the near-universal positive reaction to this is pretty cool. I'm thrilled since everyone else is.

Don't get use to it. We'll be bitching about things come Monday.

 

[Wasted Talent]

Don't get use to it. We'll be bitching about things come Monday.

Is that when Middleton gets extended?

 

[Wild11MN]

Is that when Middleton gets extended?

Ugh. I will certainly complain about that one.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Will get a chance to see him in competitive action again in less than a month with the US World Junior Summer Showcase. Roster linked below, he should play a large role on the team, very good cast around him. The youngest guys here could potentially be team leaders at the 2026 WJC, hosted here.

2024 World Junior Summer Showcase Roster

teamusa.usahockey.com

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Super happy for y'all getting the (potential) steal of the draft! Guerin/Brackett saw Kwesi and Connelly making big time moves and knew they needed to get their guy by whatever means necessary. Faber and Buium for a decade, that's just filthy.

 

[Star Platinum]

Sharks fan here. We've been collectively in love with Buium for a long time. When he fell to that pick, people were elated that we had a choice between him and Dickinson. Apparently, our GM had Dickinson rated higher, so he took him.

IMO, you guys got the best D in the draft including Levshunov. Can't believe he was the last of the six to be picked, that's just insane to me. At some point, forget the measurements and trust your eyes. I think many teams from this draft will regret passing on him.