Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild announced today that the club signed defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year, entry-level contract starting this season.
Buium, 19, has played the last two seasons with Denver University. He won a National Championship and a NCHC Championship with Denver. This season, he took Denver to the Frozen Four again.
They ended up losing to the eventual Champions, Western Michigan. In 41 games with Denver this year, Buium recorded 13 goals, 35 assists 48 points, four game-winning goals, and averaged 27:03 in time-on-ice per game.
The Wild's 12th overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft recorded a point in 30 games this season and was a Hobey Baker top-three finalist for the best player in College Hockey. He recorded 50 points during his freshman season and became the first defenseman in College Hockey to record 50 points in his first season in 20 years.
With injuries to Jake Middleton, Declan Chisholm and Jared Spurgeon, Buium may find himself in the lineup on Tuesday. He will practice with the team on Monday.