Buium accepts challenge of 'earning' long-term contract with Canucks

Zeev Buium is prepared for the expectations that come with signing a lucrative contract after playing just one NHL season. 

But no outside pressure can compare to what the Vancouver Canucks defenseman will put on himself. 

"I think every player can tell you that everyone puts more pressure on themselves than you get anywhere else," Buium said prior to Vancouver's season-opening 6-5 victory in overtime at the Edmonton Oilers on Sept. 29. "I'm the same way. I have high expectations, higher than anyone can put on myself and I think that'll never bug me or creep into my mind. As long as my organization, my teammates and my coaches are happy with me and I'm proud of what I'm doing, then that's all I can ask for."

The 20-year-old is expected to be a cornerstone on the Canucks' blue line for the foreseeable future. He signed an eight-year, $75.04 million contract Sept. 4, which has an average annual value of $9.38 million and will begin in the 2027-28 season. 

He was acquired by Vancouver in the blockbuster Quinn Hughes trade with the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12, along with forwards Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Buium had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 45 games with Vancouver after having 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 31 games for Minnesota.

That was enough for the Canucks to offer him a long-term contract. 

"It means the world to me, the fact they had the belief in me and see me as a player that they want to be around for a while," Buium said. "I think for me, it's just about showing them that they made the right decision and earning that every day. Whether that's right now or in Year 8 of that, it's going to be the same thing for me every year.

"I feel good about my game and where it's at, and it's just about getting better every game and feeling more comfortable and getting to a point where I'm consistently playing the game the way I want to play. That's the main goal for myself."

Minnesota selected Buium with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut in Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference First Round against the Vegas Golden Knights and had one assist in four games of the best-of-7 series. He is still looking for his first point four games into this season and playing on Vancouver's top defense pair to the left of Filip Hronek. 

Buium is averaging 21:40 of ice time, second on the Canucks behind Hronek (25:52), and skating on the second power-play unit.

Vancouver (2-2-0) opens a six-game road trip at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; HHN, CARNHL, SNP).

"I definitely want to step into a bigger role this season, I want to play against the Connor McDavids of the world," Buium said. "It's not the easiest thing to do, but I want that challenge. I want to take it on this year and show that I'm capable of playing against those guys, not just defensively, but offensively as well, and making the right decisions with the puck. 

"I think that's the biggest thing for me is that I want to be able to work myself into a role where maybe I'm not just on the power play, but you get to play on the PK, and 5-on-6, not just 6-on-5. I'm going to do everything I can to get there and this year, something that I want to achieve is to step into that role."

Though the Canucks have high expectations for Buium, they do not want to overwhelm him in his second full season. First-year coach Manny Malhotra recognizes young players need to be protected at times and put into positions where they'll succeed. 

"Obviously we have to give him opportunities where he can show what he's capable of doing and put him in good situations," Malhotra said. "There is going to be some learning from being put in some vulnerable situations, but I think that goes into rounding out your game and becoming a good pro." 

Malhotra said he was impressed with Buium during training camp and appreciates his eagerness to develop into an elite defenseman.  

"In talking to him, he's a guy that really wants the information, he really wants to learn and wants to get better," Malhotra said. "We acknowledge that he's young and it's going to take some time to develop his overall game. As we discussed with a lot of young guys, it's about what they're going to look like in two, three, or four years."

Buium entered the NHL as an offensive defenseman. He played two seasons at the University of Denver and had 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 41 games of his sophomore year. His goal this season is to play well on both sides of the puck, continue to earn ice time and be utilized in key situations.

The Canucks recognized the talent is there, which is why they were prepared to commit to him after a small sample size.

"For a young guy to have that level of confidence with the puck is impressive," Malhotra said. "He sees the ice really well. His feet move really well. It's the overall package and within that, it's the confidence that he plays the game with."