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Zeev Buium Scouting Report: 2024 NHL Draft #10

Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! Today we bring you our Zeev Buium Scouting Report.

Zeev Buium had an incredible year, winning a World Junior gold medal with Team USA; an NCAA Championship with the University of Denver; and a number of individual awards as a freshman in the NCAA. He put up three goals and two assists for five points in seven games for Team USA at the World Juniors. Buium also added 11 goals and 39 assists for the University of Denver Pioneers. The performance was enough to get Buium a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s biggest trophy. He was named to the all-tournament team as well as his conference all-star and all-rookie teams.

Buium was a member of the vaunted US National Team Development Program. In 2022-23 he scored five goals and 35 assists for 40 points in 63 games with the under-18 team. He also helped the American team to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships.

His brother, Shai Buium recently signed an entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings, after being picked in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Zeev Buium 2024 NHL Draft Scouting Report

Left Defence — shoots Left
Born December 7th, 2005 — San Diego, California
Height 6’02” — Weight 183 lbs [188 cm / 83 kg]

Skating

Buium doesn’t have the prettiest skating stride, and things certainly are not textbook. However, he still has good mobility and it helps him to play a strong two-way game. Buium’s stride is a bit choppy and he skates a little too upright. This means that his top-end speed and acceleration are hurt. That said, he still moves well enough and gets up and down the ice with above average movement.

However, he does show excellent edgework and agility. His lateral movement, ability to cut on a dime, and his ability to pivot from going forwards to backwards and vice-versa are the key to his game. These skills allow him to be deceptive and open up offensive opportunities. They also allow him to keep his man in front of him and maintain gap control. He is strong on his skates for his size and able to withstand contact and battle for loose pucks.

Offensive Game

Buium is an incredibly intelligent player. He spots openings and makes a quick crisp pass through them. His puck control and poise are excellent. Buium knows how to walk the line and move laterally in order to open up passing and shooting lanes in the offensive zone. He can quarterback the power-play, taking his time and waiting for an opening to present itself. He is also able to make effective breakouts from his own end. Buium can make both a short quick pass to a teammate, or a long pass to create an odd-man rush. He also can skate the puck out of the zone and through the neutral zone, helping to control possession in the process.

Buium’s passing skills are elite. His vision and ability to put the puck through tight areas is outstanding. His quick hands can also create space and passing lanes. He has the vision to find open teammates. Buium also has a good wrist shot. It is accurate and powerful. He gets his shot off with a quick and deceptive release to fool goalies. His slapshot is good, but not great. However, he does a good job of getting it through traffic and keeping it low and on the net. This allows his teammates to set up in front of the net and set screens, get deflections, and pounce on rebounds.

Defensive Game

Buium is not the biggest or strongest defender, but he is not afraid to take a hit to make a play or battle his opponents on the boards. He is also smart and positions himself well. With his good lateral movement, he maintains effective gap control and forces attackers to the outside. He also uses his stick to pokecheck opponents as well as to cut down passing lanes. Buium is engaged without the puck, keeping his man close and his body between the opponent and the goal. He anticipates plays and this allows him to create turnovers. Once a turnover is created, Buium is quick to move the puck up the ice and generate offence in the other direction.

Projection and Comparison

Buium could still stand to get bigger and stronger. Another year in the NCAA, where he plays a lighter schedule and can continue to bulk up would be beneficial. However, it won’t be long before he is ready for the pro game. His cerebral game is exactly what coaches are looking for. Buium makes a lot of smart plays and very few mistakes both with and without the puck. His size and speed aren’t at the levels of other top prospects, but they don’t have his hockey IQ.  Buium’s game is reminiscent of Andrei Markov. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on his skill or ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Zeev Buium that are available on YouTube and Twitter.

 

Check back later for our latest 2024 NHL Draft Article.

Main Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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