ST. PAUL - The way Zeev Buium was practicing on Thursday indicated that the rookie defenseman could be in the lineup for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Vegas on Sunday. 

Buium, 19, took line rushes with Zach Bogosian on the Wild's third pair. Jon Merrill, who is usually always with Bogosian, was with Declan Chisholm. 

Not only did Buium take line rushes with Bogosian, but he was running the Wild's top power play unit in the team's practice. 

The Wild have been going with a five forward top power play unit with Marco Rossi, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mats Zuccarello, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. 

On Thursday, Buium replaced Rossi and was quarterbacking the point. This seemed like a sign to Buium being in the lineup on Sunday. 

But Wild head coach John Hynes did not confirm. 

"We have a plan for him and this was the next step we talked about," Hynes said on Buium being in line rushes. "The steps we put him through and then give him an opportunity to, obviously a real good structured practice and give him some opportunities to see what he looks like in those situations. It was a good day."

Hynes said that he talked to Denver University's head coach David Carle on Wednesday to understand Buium a little bit more. 

Although, Hynes didn't commit to Buium being in the lineup, he didn't seem to deny it either but rather said "ask me Saturday."

"He is a really good player but let's try and do the right things to give him the best chance," Hynes said. "Today I thought he did a good job. Talking to him after practice he obviously felt more comfortable but it was a little different, too."