LD Zeev Buium - University of Denver, NCAA (2024, 12th, MIN)

[tomd]

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.

Yeah, back in the day Potvin was anything but undersized.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Ahh yes - the Flyers is DEFINATELY the franchise to look to when it comes to making intelligent drafting decisions.

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]

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.

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]

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.

 

[Boxscore]

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.

Buium will likely be better. Write it down in Sharpie...

Best case: Adam Fox
Worst case: Josh Morrissey

 

[Juxtaposer]

Buium will likely be better. Write it down in Sharpie...

Best case: Adam Fox
Worst case: Josh Morrissey

Lmfao Josh Morrissey is a top-10 defenseman in the league.

 

[roon]

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.

Perhaps a real trend among losing franchises?

 

[BagHead]

Perhaps a real trend among losing franchises?

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.

 

[57special]

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.

 

[Larry44]

Lmfao Josh Morrissey is a top-10 defenseman in the league.

Actually, Morrissey was 8th in D scoring at 69 points. Never said he was a top 10 Dman, just a top scoring Dman.

NHL Stats

 

[roon]

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 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]

Actually, Morrissey was 8th in D scoring at 69 points. Never said he was a top 10 Dman, just a top scoring Dman.

NHL Stats

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]

I’m stating a fact. Josh Morrissey is a top-10 defenseman in the NHL and is a ridiculous choice for Buium’s ‘floor’.

Didn't see the post to which you responded. I'd certainly put him up there.

 

[Plgilbert89]

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]

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.

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.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Low ceiling for Buium? lol...

Dude just had the greatest freshmen season by a D man in the past 30+ years, and 2nd best of all time.

His greatest trait is his brain and processing.

And the edgework. Skating isn't always about raw speed.

 

[keppel146]

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.

Don’t kill my high baby baby

 

[MNRube]

The Top D in this draft were all excellent prospects. One was bound to fall and I’m not surprised it was the smallish LHD. @Dack perfectly summarized how team needs and existing handedness played into the slip as well.

I do think Minnesota needs to prioritize getting a big RHD now. The blueline is small with Faber, Brodin, Buium, Spurgeon.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Back to the topic at hand. He moves like Adam Fox with all of the head fakes.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Back to the topic at hand. He moves like Adam Fox with all of the head fakes.

His shimmies are sick, but it’s his backhand carry that really sets him apart in my eyes, not a lot of options to deal with that as long as he isn’t completely muscled off. Bet he picked that trick up from playing with his gargantuan brothers.

 

[HockeyVirus]

No one mentioning maybe he interviewed poorly or was a complete clown? If he was going into meetings saying he expects to be given an NHL role in 1 year or something like Cutter and Mcgroarty like was sending red flags other top guys weren't.

Can have all the ability in the world, you need to be coachable and teams need to believe you will buy in

 

[majormajor]

No one mentioning maybe he interviewed poorly or was a complete clown? If he was going into meetings saying he expects to be given an NHL role in 1 year or something like Cutter and Mcgroarty like was sending red flags other top guys weren't.

Can have all the ability in the world, you need to be coachable and teams need to believe you will buy in

Oh we covered it, the thinking is that he probably chose the wrong animal, or possibly gave a wrong response to the money in the toilet question.

I'm joking. Zeev is very well spoken. If you're looking for a reason why he slipped I think the best answer is that many teams have been having headaches with NCAA players and Americans in general, like Cutter and McGroarty, but also players like Fox and Tkachuk and DeBrincat and so on that have been issues for Canadian clubs. Zeev doesn't have to say anything wrong on that front, it's just an issue that will drag him down regardless of what he says about it. He probably interviewed extremely well. He's shown great ability to adapt as a player and there's zero hint that there's any coachability issue with him.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

No one mentioning maybe he interviewed poorly or was a complete clown? If he was going into meetings saying he expects to be given an NHL role in 1 year or something like Cutter and Mcgroarty like was sending red flags other top guys weren't.

Can have all the ability in the world, you need to be coachable and teams need to believe you will buy in

Players own words below on that topic, if you have seen any of his interviews, he is very well spoken. It is in poor taste to make uninformed negative speculation about a player, there have been no reports about his interviews being poor and all video evidence points towards the opposite.

Some quotes from Buium while at the WJ summer showcase:

2024 World Junior Summer Showcase: 3 things learned on Day 2 | NHL.com

Wild prospect Buium glad to be returning to University of Denver; Hemming set for OHL after being drafted by Stars

www.nhl.com

"We had conversations about [turning professional] but after having a really good, productive season as a freshman and such a good year defensively, I felt really good with where my game was at and I thought, ‘You know, if I can build on that going into next year I'm going to look a lot better by the end of the year,’" Buium told NHL.com. "That was a big point for me, and the Wild respected that. ... They thought the same thing. I want to try to win back-to-back World Juniors and back-to-back college championships. It's really hard to win two in a row, and you want to be on those teams, experience that, see what it's like and kind of get that experience."

 

[57special]

He was taken later because he was a LHD, and smaller in stature than other(also very talented)LHD's taken immediately before him. Dickinson and Silayev are different types of players than Buium, but excellent in their own right. Hard to ignore great skating D who are 6'3"+.

I think most thought that all of the LHD would be taken higher. NJD already have offensively talented Dmen in Hughes and Hamilton, but needed a solid D who would be tough to play against. SJS went with Dickinson, a great skater with good size, and two way ability, as well as overall excellent athleticism.

I could easily have seen all three being picked before Sennecke, Iginla, Catton, Yakemchuk and Parekh, but this draft was harder to read than most.

 

[William H Bonney]

Why do we have to search for hypothetical reasons he went at 12 when it's quite possible the only reason is scouting is hard and the teams that took others over him may regret it dearly a couple of years from now.

There are so many reasons players go where they do and they're not always negative or off-ice reasons. Very few prospects (Buium included) don't have real on-ice concerns that will make teams hesitate.