Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and Marco Rossi all know there’s lots more to do, but they’re pumped to be at the centre of what they hope is to come for the Vancouver Canucks<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 26, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> are closing the 2025-26 season as one of the NHL\u2019s youngest teams.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That\u2019s quite the contrast for the Canucks\u2019 \u201cwild\u201d bunch of Zeev Buium, Liam \u00d6hgren and Marco Rossi. According to the NHL\u2019s data, the Canucks\u2019 roster is currently the league\u2019s third youngest, while the Wild are the fourth oldest.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n For Buium, who is just 20, this is a dressing room that feels much more familiar than the one he sat in Minnesota.<\/p>\n \u201cVery, very old,\u201d he laughed earlier this week, when asked to compare the two rooms. Obviously, in Minnesota the experienced teammates he had there taught him a lot and he valued that, but now in Vancouver, he knows it\u2019s an open book. This can and should be his cohorts\u2019 team. Everything is on them.<\/p>\n That he got traded along with two guys who aren\u2019t far off his age helped a bunch.<\/p>\n \u201cI think when we got traded here, we really became closer,\u201d he said of Rossi, who is 24, and \u00d6hgren, who is almost two years older.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not been an easy road,\u201d Buium admitted nonetheless. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s finding the confidence in every game. I can feel myself becoming more and more (inclined) to do what I want to do. And I think that it\u2019s all confidence and believing in yourself. Trusting in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Like most young players, that doesn\u2019t always come right away. Every step up to the NHL has taken him a minute to adjust. The NHL by its very nature is the hardest step he will even take.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time you move up a level \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s from junior to college or to the NHL \u2014 you want to see yourself be able to pull off things that you want to do. And I think, slowly, I\u2019m starting to see myself able to do it. That just gives you more confidence to know I can do this at this level. That\u2019s kind of the big thing for me,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n He and Rossi have become especially close. They are living near each other in the Olympic Village.<\/p>\n \u201cMarco is just so steady,\u201d Buium noted. \u201cHe\u2019s a really good guy, how he cares so much, so competitive. Doesn\u2019t share it with everybody, but I know him pretty well. I think that (the trade) probably brought us a little bit closer, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cA bit of \u2018Where are we? What are we doing?\u2019 But I think we also kind of gelled well in Minnesota right away. I think he was kind of looking for another young guy,\u201d Buium concluded.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Even though he is still theoretically a young player by NHL standards, he\u2019s still got more experience than many of his teammates. So Rossi says he is consciously trying to help his younger teammates keep their chins up, as much as anything.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m maybe not the most talkative person,\u201d Rossi admitted. \u201cI\u2019m not here screaming around. But you know, I\u2019m really looking for the young guys. I can really lead them and show them. I can give them a lot of confidence. I know when you\u2019re a young guy, you make a mistake, it\u2019s maybe not easy. You\u2019re thinking too much about that one mistake. So I try to help them, tell them that everyone makes mistakes, and just keep going, keep pushing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00d6hgren said he is really finding his way. Getting to play with Rossi has been a big help. Although they were teammates in Minnesota, they were hardly ever on the ice together.<\/p>\n \u201c(Rossi) is so smart,\u201d he said, smiling. \u201cHis hockey IQ is really high. And he can make a play anywhere on the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00d6hgren is getting more ice time in Vancouver and he has been making more things happen offensively in those minutes too. His shot rate, both personally and his team\u2019s, are up now that he is playing a regular role with the Canucks.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s been great for me, and I have had a lot of opportunities, been playing a lot. I brought to show that I can play at this level. I think it\u2019s been a really good way so far in Vancouver, and I\u2019m really happy about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Buium said he is happy for \u00d6hgren, a guy who he played against often at the world juniors before becoming teammates in Minnesota. He is pleased about the progress that \u00d6hgren\u2019s made with the Canucks. He is certainly getting more opportunities with the Canucks, a good thing for everyone in the long run.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he probably was a little bit more sheltered than I was in Minnesota,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think he got as much opportunity. He\u2019s obviously a great player and Minnesota had a lot of great forwards and players. I think he got put in positions in Minnesota where you almost strictly go play offence and do your thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ironically, even though everyone wants to score goals, the more all-around role the Canucks have given \u00d6hgren \u2014 he is killing penalties, for example \u2014 Buium thinks has helped \u00d6hgren play a little looser, and to not squeeze his stick so tight.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI think him coming here was kind of a big weight off his shoulders to get him to do his thing,\u201d Buium said. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to see what he can do, and it\u2019s fun to see people see it. It\u2019s like he\u2019s been doing this for forever, but now he\u2019s just getting more volume. So I love seeing him succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00d6hgren, for his part, grinned about how he has been playing.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to play with the speed. Be hard on pucks, win puck battles. Use my skills that I know I have, and use my shot and contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n The Canucks only hope to see more of just that from all three.<\/p>\n pjohnston@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: Why Linus Karlsson matters to set right grinding standard<\/p>\n![\"Marco](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774678510_878_2266637924_302129958.jpg\")
Marco Rossi (left) is congratulated by Liam Ohgren after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers earlier this month Photo by Verity Griffin \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Liam Ohgren and Zeev Buium jostle in front of the net at Canucks practice at Rogers Arena on March 11 Photo by Arlen Redekop \/PNG<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774678513_648_2266120736_302062791.jpg\")
Zeev Buium gets a leg up on forward Chandler Stephenson of the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena earlier this month Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Vancouver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774678513_42_2247047954_299907784.jpg\")
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