In a significant move within the NHL landscape, the Minnesota Wild traded promising young defenseman Zeev Buium to the Vancouver Canucks, positioning him as the centerpiece of a deal that brought star captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota. This blockbuster trade, which took place last Friday, has sent shockwaves through both franchises.
Buium, just 20 years old, emerged as the Wild’s defensive prospect of the future after being selected 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. His track record includes an impressive performance at the University of Denver, where he accumulated 98 points in 83 games over two seasons. In the current season, before the trade, he recorded 14 points in 31 games as a rookie. Despite the shift in his professional trajectory, Buium expressed gratitude toward both the organization and General Manager Bill Guerin, stating he felt no sense of deception regarding his standing with the team.
“I don’t think anything they told me was a lie. I really don’t,” Buium remarked following the Canucks’ narrow 2-1 road victory over the New Jersey Devils. He praised Guerin’s commitment to the team’s win-now mentality, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the franchise’s immediate goals.
In the trade, Buium was part of a package that included center Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick in exchange for Hughes, a 26-year-old Norris Trophy winner recognized as one of the league’s elite defensemen. Heading into the game on Sunday, Hughes had amassed 432 points in 459 games and was leading the Canucks in scoring with 23 points in 26 matches.
Making an immediate impact with his new team, Buium tallied two points during his debut with the Canucks. He facilitated Jake DeBrusk’s opening goal with an assist and later scored his fourth goal of the season, a fortunate deflection off a Devils defenseman.
Guerin acknowledged Buium’s talent and character, calling him a “special kid and a special human.” However, he indicated that parting with such a promising player was necessary to secure Hughes. “I love that kid, but you have to give something to get something,” he said, reflecting on the complexities of trade negotiations in the league.
Despite the emotional aspect of leaving Minnesota, Buium remains determined to seize this new opportunity. He views the trade not as an indictment of his abilities but as a chance for further development. “I don’t think it’s [Guerin] saying, ‘You’re not good enough’ or ‘We don’t believe in you,'” Buium explained. “But I think he sees me needing to develop a little bit more.”
With a fresh start in Vancouver, Buium is motivated to prove the Canucks made a worthwhile investment in him, aiming to follow in the footsteps of Hughes and solidifying his role as a key player in the league. As the season unfolds, fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how this dynamic trade reshapes both teams and their futures.
