Following first full AHL season, Buium knows much more is in store for himself in 2025-26

FRISCO, Texas -- With his first full campaign as a member of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins behind him, defenseman prospect Shai Buium wants to expand upon his all-around game in the 2025-26 season.

But first, Buium is welcoming the opportunity to shake off some summer rust when he and the Detroit Red Wings take on the Dallas Stars for the 2025 NHL Prospect Games at Comerica Center this weekend. Puck drop for Saturday night's opener of the two-game series is set for 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT, with streaming available on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App.

“It’s always nice to get on the ice and play some games with the Winged Wheel on,” Buium told DetroitRedWings.com following Saturday’s morning skate. “It’s been a long summer, so I’m excited to get out there and show what I know I can do. We’re going to try to win both games this weekend.”

Regardless of the environment, Buium loves to compete and expects a lot of himself – especially when it comes to his own development. The 22-year-old defenseman, selected by the Red Wings with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, had 25 points (two goals, 23 assists) in 67 regular-season games with the Griffins in 2024-25.

“Last year was a learning year for me,” Buium said. “College hockey and pro hockey are very different, so just learning the pro game and getting comfortable there. I got better as the season went on. I’m just really excited for this year, to do what I can do and try to make it to the NHL.”

For Buium, the biggest adjustment to professional hockey following his three seasons (2021-24) at the University of Denver was understanding the true power of the correlation between off-ice work and on-ice performance.

“Taking care of your body and what you’re doing away from the rink,” Buium said. “You play on Friday, Saturday in college then you have a whole week off. You play 36 regular-season games and every game is a playoff game [in college], but it’s not as taxing on the body as pro hockey. Here, you learn, probably halfway through the season, that you have to be dialed all the time. There are no off days.”

Buium feels he made big gains in a lot of areas last season, noting that his veteran Griffins teammates helped him navigate his very new life.

“I know it’s cliché and people say it all the time, but just being a pro,” Buium said. “Just trying to be a pro on and off the ice. Your habits are super important. Your sleep is more important than you’d ever think it would be. Nutrition, even. All of it comes together, so when you get to the ice and play the game, you feel the best.”

So, Buium will keep pushing himself and work to apply all that he’s learned in the past on the ice in the present -- with his closest friends at his side.

“At dinner last night, we talked about how much we just miss being together on the road,” Buium said. “We live for and love that type of stuff. Having your best buds on the team makes hockey really, really fun.”