What Zeev Buium Brings to the Canucks’ Defense Line

The Vancouver Canucks made a significant trade by sending defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. In return, they received center Marco Rossi, winger Liam Öhgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in 2026.

Although the Canucks will miss Hughes, their new phase has begun positively with four consecutive wins. Buium has quickly made an impact, stepping in as a skilled puck-moving defenseman, somewhat replacing Hughes.

Steve Peters discussed Buium’s potential in Vancouver on Daily Faceoff Live with Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s talk about Buium. He could change how we see this trade over the next three to five years. Is that a fair assessment?

Steve Peters: Buium shares some traits with Hughes, like making long passes to assist the team’s breakout and having the vision for key plays. He also contributes on offense, but he’s still developing at 20 years old.

Buium plays with a different pace than Hughes, especially during offensive rushes. He brings more energy and has a different style in the defensive zone. While his quick decision-making isn’t at Hughes’ level yet, Buium has the potential to become a strong player. Vancouver’s current style is more relaxed, which could suit Buium well. He should be able to play freely and support the offense, though he will never replicate what Hughes achieved.

You can view the full analysis of the trade and the complete DFO Live episode here.