Minnesota Wild select Zeev Buium No. 12 overall in 2024 NHL Draft

The Minnesota Wild just nabbed themselves an NCAA national champion, selecting defenseman Zeev Buium from the University of Denver in the first round, No. 12 overall on Friday from the Sphere in Las Vegas. 

Buium was dominant for Denver in 2023-24, finishing with a career-high (across all levels) 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) in 42 games as a freshman. It was the first 50-point season by a Denver freshman since John McMillan and Dwight Mathiasen both did it in 1983-84 and only the second time a defenseman under the age of 18 did it in NCAA history. 

The left-handed defender was the second-youngest player in NCAA Division-1 men’s hockey, a mainstay on the blue line for the Pioneers and played alongside his brother, Shai, last season. 

In the postseason, Denver knocked off Omaha in the Frozen Faceoff Championship to win the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they got past UMass, Cornell, first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini’s Boston University and eventually, shut out top-seeded Boston College to win their NCAA-leading 10th national title. 

How good is the 18-year-old defenseman? Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis ranked him third on his list of the top 15 defensemen available at the draft and sixth overall in his final draft prospect rankings. Celebrini even called him the best player in the Frozen Four. 

Buium was vital to the Pioneers’ run, tallying 16 points in the final 15 games. 

Buium was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey, NCHC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Defenseman of the Year, ACHA First-Team All-American, and was selected for the All-NCHC First Team and NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team. Just to name a few. 

Prior to Denver, Buium played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Laguna Niguel, California native recorded 40 points (five goals, 35 assists) in 63 games in 2022-23.