The Minnesota Wild saw a player fall out of the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and made the most of the opportunity. In a trade announced just before the 12th overall pick, the Wild made a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers and moved up exactly one spot to acquire a very talented defenseman.
The Wild moved up to select University of Denver defenseman Zeev Bouium in exchange for the 13th overall pick and a third-round pick in 2025. The player was expected to be taken anywhere from third overall to another spot in the first 10 picks, but the Wild took him 12th overall.
Bouium was one of the most exciting defensemen in college hockey last season as the youngest defenseman in the NCAA, scoring 11 goals and 50 points in just 42 games as a freshman, which is pretty rare. He is a genuine special talent, and the Wild quickly figured out that the moment he had a downturn, they would take full advantage of it, just like they did with goaltender Jesper Wallstedt a few years ago.
What is Buium like on the ice? We asked our friends at Elite Prospects.
“Zeev Bouium was the best draft-eligible defenseman in college hockey this year, possibly the best in the country. The aggregated statistics speak for themselves, but a deeper look makes this point stand out even more. Because it's one thing to be the top defenseman in the country averaging well over a point per game as a 17- or 18-year-old freshman, but it's quite another to do it while also managing the tasks that are presented to you.”
“Buium began the season at the top of Denver's depth chart and finished it there. In total, he played 1,084 minutes and 55 seconds, the most in collegiate time, 18 minutes behind second with two games to play. He matched up against the opponent's best player every night and held his opponent to a plus-32 point differential, the third-best in the country. During that time, he scored 50 points in 42 games, the most ever by a first-time draft blue lineman. Many have looked at Buium this year and been reminded of Quinn Hughes in 2018, which is an entirely natural reaction given their similar profiles.”
That is worthy of praise.
Next, the Wild will begin day two of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 45th overall pick in the second round.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants to nurture your voice and build an audience. We'll pay you for it. All you have to do is fill out this form.
