‘He’s got the swagger, the vision and ability. It’s managing the clock, his opponents and teammates. He’s a pretty bright guy.’ \u2014 Canucks head coach Adam Foote on Zeev Buium<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 02, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 27\u00a0minutes ago \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 Zeev Buium is getting rave reviews<\/a> as the next big thing on the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>\u2019 transitioning back end.<\/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 He plays with a certain swagger. He loves to joke and discover the city with young blueliners Elias Pettersson<\/a> and Tom Willander. He has won it all at three significant development levels \u2014 Under-18, world junior, world championship \u2014 and is making major progress<\/a> in master-class instruction in first-pairing minutes with veteran Filip Hronek<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n And he\u2019s only 20 years old<\/a>.<\/p>\n Buium\u2019s motor will be running hot Thursday when he faces his former club and Quinn Hughes<\/a> in St. Paul, Minn. They were key components in the massive Dec. 12 trade that sent the Canucks\u2019 captain to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and Buium, plus a 2026 first-round draft pick.<\/p>\n \u201cThis whole year has been a lot of ups-and-downs and some games it\u2019s like that, but we\u2019ve pieced better games together,\u201d Buium told Postmedia News of the decision-making progress that\u2019s led to being fourth in rookie blueliner scoring with 23 points (5-18) in 67 games, but also struggling with a minus-25 rating.<\/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 \u201cThere\u2019s no more (trade deadline) nonsense or craziness and we can just focus and not worrying about the guy next to you being gone tomorrow. That\u2019s definitely a factor. We\u2019re trying to prove ourselves and show what we can do at this level.\u201d<\/p>\n Buium is aware of Hughes\u2019s electric and intimidating game and the 2024 Norris Trophy winner tops the list of blueliners he has often watched and wanted to emulate.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a few guys, and obviously, Quinn was one of them,\u201d said Buium. \u201cA guy like (Josh) Morrissey is someone I like to watch. He\u2019s similar to me and uses a shorter stick as well. Just the way we skate is similar. And there\u2019s Roman Josi. Every team we play, there\u2019s a No. 1 guy like Rasmus Dahlin, who you grew up watching and it\u2019s cool to play against them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I played Cale Makar earlier this year, you can pick things up and try them out.\u201c<\/p>\n However, there\u2019s only one Quinn Hughes<\/a>.<\/p>\n His willingness to listen and learn, constantly improve a dynamic game, set a high standard for success, and Hughes responding to constant scrutiny by excelling against elite opposition is something Buium admires. Hughes had just five NHL games on his resume when Canucks defensive partner Chris Tanev gushed about his potential.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so mobile and he can escape a lot of trouble by spinning out of things and making plays \u2014 a lot of little plays that people don\u2019t even notice \u2014 that are incredible and pretty special,\u201d said Tanev.<\/p>\n As for Buium, he\u2019s been a pretty quick study in 68 career NHL games.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going to learn there are times when he\u2019s feeling it, but I like how he\u2019s not intimidated by the traffic,\u201d said Canucks head coach Adam Foote. \u201cHe\u2019s got the swagger to do it and the vision and ability. It\u2019s managing the clock, who his opponents are, and who his teammates are for line changes.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a pretty bright guy and picks up on things to create separation. And his positional play in his own zone is pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n Buium has another year left on his entry-level contract, but there\u2019s already buzz of a long-term commitment to the 6-foot, 183 pound San Diego native, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft by the Wild. As he gets better, he\u2019s going to attract more forechecking attention.<\/p>\n Hughes plays hard, he plays hurt, and has the will and want to win, and set franchise production records in the process.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He also became targeted and took heavy hits in a 2024 first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators that reached a painful point in Game 5. Hughes was pounded in the defensive zone by Anthony Beauvillier and then jammed up hard between forecheckers Jason Zucker and Colton Sissons. He winced and was doubled over in discomfort and missed his next shift.<\/p>\n Hughes was hit five times in the first two periods and was drilled on more than a dozen occasions in the series in which the Canucks prevailed in six games.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt good enough to play my best and that\u2019s what I tried to do,\u201d reasoned Hughes.<\/p>\n What also set Hughes apart was getting to the point where he wasn\u2019t a kid anymore. He passed on waffles with all the fixings at Breakfast Club. He ate better, trained smarter and learned to avoid getting immersed in the trappings of social media. He put down his iPhone, got to movie theatres and started reading books. It helped to shut out the constant noise in a hockey-mad market.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Buium is obviously younger and open to discovering Yaletown or Gastown, but there will come a time to find the balance between fun and focus.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what Hughes did.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever I want to eat I will, but I try to feel as good as I possibly can,\u201d Hughes told Postmedia. \u201cI just wanted to feel better and not grind through games. The changes I made I\u2019m still feeling now. You can get two points and not play great, but six shots and creating and playing well defensively, that\u2019s the process. <\/p>\n \u201cOver the course of 80 games, things will even out.\u201d<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks Preview: Why severe Avalanche warning has put entire NHL on notice<\/p>\n![\"Zev\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0402-zev-two.jpg\")
Fleet-footed Zeev Buium of the Vancouver Canucks goes on the offensive during against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 14, 2025, in Newark, N.J. Photo by Andrew Mordzynski \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Defenceman Zeev Buium gets a leg-up to elude Chandler Stephenson of the Seattle Kraken during a March 14 meeting at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775136800_652_2249660598_300167798.jpg\")
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