Wild’s Zeev Buium to make debut in Game 1 versus Golden Knights

When the Minnesota Wild open the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday versus the Vegas Golden Knights, it will also mark the debut for star prospect Zeev Buium, Wild head coach John Hynes confirmed per NHL.com reporter Shawn Roarke.

“There’s a reason why he’s here,” Hynes told Roarke, adding that Buium will be paired with veteran blue-liner Zach Bogosian. “He has played some big moments, obviously not in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and that environment, but I think it’s a good opportunity for him. He’s got some really good attributes. He’s a smart player and he’s competitive. He’s got some good elements to his game.”

Chosen 12th overall by the Wild in last summer’s NHL Draft, Buium recently wrapped his second season with the NCAA’s Denver Pioneers where through 41 appearances he finished third in scoring and first among defensemen with 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points. In all, through two seasons with the Pioneers, Buium collected 24 goals and 74 assists for 98 points through 83 career contests, underscored by NCHC’s Player of the Year recognition in his second season. Both years, Buium was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the top college hockey player.

A 19-year-old native of San Diego, Calif., the past two seasons have also seen Buium claim back-to-back gold-medal victories with Team USA at the World Juniors where through 14 total appearances he put up five goals and six assists for 11 points.

“I’m very, very excited,” Buium said about his pending debut, per Roarke. “I’m just really thankful for the opportunity. These guys have built toward this the entire season, so I just want to go out there and do whatever I can [to] help.”

The Wild closed out the 2024-25 regular season with a 45-30-7 record and 97 points to claim the first wildcard seed in the Western Conference and set up an opening-round matchup against the Golden Knights.