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The 2024 draft has one of the best groups of defencemen to come along in several years. Among this excellent class, one of the highest-rated blueliners is Zeev Buium, a high-scoring defender with a strong defensive game. If Montreal decides to take the best player available at the number five selection, Buium would be a solid choice.

Bio

Defenceman
Shoots: Left
DOB: Dec. 7, 2005
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 185 lbs

Rankings

Elite Prospects: 7
Future Considerations: 9
Daily Faceoff: 6
The Hockey News (Ferrari): 5
The Hockey News (Kennedy): 4
TSN (Bob McKenzie): 13
TSN (Craig Button): 4
NHL Central Scouting (N. American): 4
Sportsnet (Cosentino): 7
Sportsnet (Bukala): 4
Recruit Scouting: 4
Dobber Prospects: 5
Draft Prospects Hockey: 7
Smaht Scouting: 6
FloHockey: 6
Mckeen’s Hockey: 9

Statistics

Scouting Report

All Buium does is win. He led his Denver team to take the NCAA championship while playing a key role as a shutdown defender against Boston College’s top line of Will Smith, Gabe Perreault, and Ryan Leonard. During the Junior World Championships, Zeev was a big contributor leading his team to a gold medal, while scoring a team-high three goals among defencemen.

As a college freshman, he scored 50 points to lead all blueliners. That point total was the highest number in 40 years among defencemen. He also outscored former college freshmen like Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, Cal Makar, and Lane Hutson in their first seasons.

When it comes to offensive skill, his hockey sense is off the charts. He regularly makes plays out of nothing. Zeev also has excellent mobility, can thread a needle with his passing, and has a hard, accurate shot. Buium is a play driver that can easily lead a rush.

His defensive game is also quite good. Although he’s not a physical player, he is smart enough to break up a play with his stick and always be in the right position to defend. He’s a hard worker that does not take a shift off. Zeev plays a very consistent game and makes few mistakes. Buium led his team in ice time and was used on both special team units.

Timeline

For the right team, Buium could make the jump to the NHL right away if they were willing to let him continue to develop at the pro level. Although he’s not a small defenceman, he would benefit from gaining strength to better handle pro forwards. Staying in college for at least two years is the same path followed by Fox, Hughes, Makar, and Hutson.

As such, I believe he should remain in college for one more year before leaving and signing his first professional contract. While Montreal does have a high number of left-shooting blueliners in their system, Buium has the potential to be better than any of them. That could make the Canadiens’ decision difficult when their time comes to walk up to the podium and announce their choice.