ST. LOUIS — Zeev Buium has apparently skated his last shift with the DU Pioneers.
The Pios’ sophomore defenseman confirmed to The Denver Post early Friday evening that he plans on joining the Minnesota Wild soon.
“I think I’m ready to take that next step and play in the NHL and try to make that jump,” Buium told The Post after the 2025 Hobey Baker award ceremony. “I think I’m ready for it.
“I think I’m going to do my best I can to make an impact and do whatever I can to help my team win. At the end of the day, that’s always what I want to do. It doesn’t matter what level I’m at. I want to win. It doesn’t matter where I’m playing or what level. I just want to win — (and) want to help in any way I can.”
The 6-foot, 186-pound Buium was selected by the Minnesota Wild 12th overall in the 2024 NHL draft. He collected 48 points on 13 goals and 35 assists for the 31-12-1 Pios, whose season ended Thursday night at the Enterprise Center with a 3-2 loss in double overtime to Western Michigan.
Buium played 51:41 in the defeat, finishing with two blocks and a shot. The defenseman appeared to suffer a slew foot during a collision along the boards late in the second period but returned to finish the contest.
Asked about a specific timeline to report to Minnesota, Buium said, “I don’t know. I think it’s more so between us — me and the team, and I’m going to keep that between us for now.”
Buium, the Pios’ venerated young defenseman, was a finalist for the Hobey Baker, presented annually to the top NCAA Division I hockey player in the country, but lost out to Michigan State’s Isaac Howard.
The Hobey Baker Award, named for the late Princeton hockey player Hobey Baker, has been presented to collegians since 1981. The honor is given to the player who “exhibits strength of character both on and off the ice” and “contributes to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game,” according to the award’s website.
Earlier this month, Buium, a San Diego native, was named one of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists, along with Howard and Boston College forward Ryan Leonard.
The final round of voting was conducted by a nationwide panel of media, NHL scouts, college hockey coaches and collegiate officials.
Previous winners include Avalanche star Cale Makar, who won it with UMass in 2019; Vegas’ Jack Eichel (Boston University, 2015); Chris Drury (Boston University, 1998); and Paul Kariya (Maine, 1993). Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2024, won the award last spring.
DU senior forward Jack Devine was also named one of the top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker last month.
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