LHD Shai Buium 6'3"214lbs (Sioux City,USHL): 4g/22a/26pts in 50 games, to go with 27 PIMs and plus 16- 5th on the team in scoring, and second for defensemen behind NJ draft pick Ethan Edwards, and 12th in the league for D. He was 1st on the team in scoring in the playoffs, though with 3pts in 4 games. This kid is raw, but could become an all-situations minute muncher.
Buium has good natural instincts and reactions, he's solid in all 3 zones and has smart positioning everywhere. Big and powerful, with a long reach, he will use his size to push opponents off the puck, or pin them to the wall. He already skates well, is agile and quick. Owns a hard, accurate wrister from the point. Defensively, he has great gaps, gets into shooting/passing lanes, and knows when to activate high to disrupt plays. Plays with pace, and shines defending the rush.
One of the pillars of his game is his transition skills. Buium is a creative facilitator out of his own end, either by pass or by foot. Excellent outlet passer by hard, accurate stretch pass, bank pass, or subtle touch pass.
Buium is raw, and his body is not complete yet, but he has loads of untapped potential. While he's a good skater, he needs to build his first few strides, and lateral mobility, as well as his turn radius-he can still get burned the odd time by a speedier forward. He also needs to work on his decisions away from the puck. This is a kid who might be viewed as the steal of the draft in a few years. Potential 3rd rounder, but might be a riser...
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