I don't recall that, at all. Potvin was a very solid player, and no one that I can remember talked about his lack of size.
LD Zeev Buium - University of Denver, NCAA (2024, 12th, MIN)
- Thread starter Pavel Buchnevich
- Start date
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
Holy crap, I have said over and over in this thread that I think it’s stupid. I’m just pointing out that it’s a real trend in the NHL right now.
BagHead
Registered User
Yeah right, you hate Buium, Wild fans, and probably hockey too!
I don't get why people can't separate the message from the messenger, either. Maybe they just want to be outraged? You've been very clear that it's not you who is pushing for that change, it's NHL GMs.
DANOZ28
Registered User
dude , zeev wins everywhere he goes is that just coincidence? i think NOT! I believe he is the PERFECT fit for my wild for the next DECADE. ps IF zeev is as good as i think he can be Philly will say they screwed the pooch on this draft.
- Jan 22, 2007
- 14,548
- 7,526
Buium will likely be better. Write it down in Sharpie...
Best case: Adam Fox
Worst case: Josh Morrissey
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
BagHead
Registered User
The Wild's defense has been pretty small for years now and they haven't won anything, where the Lightning's smallest during their Cup years was 6'0" (Shattenkirk), and averaged more than 6'3". The Avs team that won with a small-sized defense corps averaged 6'1.5", which is near what the Wild have averaged. So what conclusion can we draw?
Because big defensemen are so overwhelming in number throughout the NHL, both winning and losing teams employ lots of them, so no conclusions can really be drawn as to whether it's a good strategy or not. I'd rather have a good small player than a bad big player, but I'd also rather have a good big player than a good small player.
I think Buium will be a great defenseman, and a team can absolutely win with a great defenseman of his size, but lets also be cognizant of the fact: teams ARE preferring bigger defensemen and that can affect draft position. That's not an attack on you or Buium, it's just a fact.
I can easily see Buium end up being Suter or Keith's size, and no one ever called them "small defenseman". My slight concerns about Buium are his average(not slow, or bad) speed, physicality, and defense. His skating is otherwise quite good. I think he is a smart player, and will be able to be an average defensive player, to go with an above average(hopefully well above) offensive game.
This guy is not a LHD version of Faber, who always excelled defensively, and exploded offensively as a NHL rookie. I guess MN fans can hope that he is the bizarro Faber, playing great offense and exploding defensively(doesn't sound right) in the NHL?
I am not expecting great from this guy. 30-40 points, and decent defense will be a win, and a great outcome for a #12 pick. Brodin was a #10, and is considered a very successful pick.
This guy is not a LHD version of Faber, who always excelled defensively, and exploded offensively as a NHL rookie. I guess MN fans can hope that he is the bizarro Faber, playing great offense and exploding defensively(doesn't sound right) in the NHL?
I am not expecting great from this guy. 30-40 points, and decent defense will be a win, and a great outcome for a #12 pick. Brodin was a #10, and is considered a very successful pick.
I don't honestly think size has much to do with anything other than being able to clear bodies in front of the net easier...maybe some board battle stuff - but forwards are winning those often enough to where I don't think that matters.
Bigger bodies take up more space which means more blocked shots? That is their theory behind big goaltenders anyway. Unskilled? Just be 6'5 and butterfly - throw a couple of tanks in front of him and the % of shots that get through will be as minimized as possible.
Coaches and GMs try to minimize risk and create certainty in a game with not a lot of it. Silly approach if you ask me - but I dont run an NHL team.
Juxtaposer
Outro: Divina Comedia
I’m stating a fact. Josh Morrissey is a top-10 defenseman in the NHL and is a ridiculous choice for Buium’s ‘floor’.
Larry44
#FlyersPerpetualMediocrity
- Mar 1, 2002
- 12,103
- 7,569
Didn't see the post to which you responded. I'd certainly put him up there.
Plgilbert89
Registered User
As a Utah fan Im quite jealous that The Wild will have that Faber-Buium top pairing for years to come. I couldn't believe he fell to that spot as I was kinda secretly hoping for him at 5th for Utah.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Faber wouldn't have been a defensive rockstar in college in the 2019-20 season either. And I think Buium is currently pretty underrated in that regard anyway.
