[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Shai's Brother Edition):

The "experts" keep saying that LHD Zeev Buium's torrid scoring pace in the NCAA is just an anomaly, and the numbers will soon come back down to earth- but there doesn't seem to be any sign of a slide any time soon. So far to date, Buium is tearing up the college ranks at Denver U, with 34 points in just 26 games, which would put him in the top ten all-time for pts/gp by an 18 year-old D if he can maintain that pace, with 1.31- ahead of names like Brian Leetch (1.27), Adam Fox (1.14), Zach Werenski (1.00), Luke Hughes (0.95), Seamus Casey (.78), and Quinn Hughes (.78). Buium was 5th overall in scoring for defensemen in the U-18's, with 6 points in 7 games, and 8th in scoring for defensemen in the WJC, with 5 points in 7 games.

Buium is a supremely talented two-way blueliner, who obviously leans heavily to offense, and plays big minutes against the best opponents. He's very well-rounded, but not overly flashy, like some of his contemporaries. The first pillar of Buium's game is his otherworldly skating- he can be beaten in a straight-line race by some of the faster skaters out there, but very few can match his elite edgework and agility. He can go wherever he wants to on the ice with full possession, without getting slowed down, due to his footwork- he's highly evasive and shifty, makes quick turns and changes of direction and pace on a dime, and shakes off pressure in the D zone. He can weave in and out of traffic, which helps him with another pillar in his game- his highly valuable work in transition. Buium is consistently involved in the breakout, either with a crisp pass, or by carrying it himself through layers of defenders. He's facilitates zone exits and entries with control at a high success rate, and is a lightning bolt on the rush, pushing the pace and putting defenders on their heels. His first-pass is hard and accurate, and he can connect to streaking teammates with stretch passes. He's a master of deception, and employs every little toe-drag, deke, fake, and look-off to manipulate defenses, along with changes to the angle of his stick blade and feet. He also has excellent lateral mobility, and shiftiness as another layer of deception to throw opponents off. When Buium is on the ice, defense is quickly turned into offense. Despite not being the absolute fastest player out there, his feet stay moving, and he pushes pace while driving play.

Buium thinks the game at an elite level, and may be the smartest player in the Draft- his top-tier IQ is the third pillar of his game, and is his best asset. He's highly creative, and his processing speed is faster than most- he's often a few steps ahead of the play, and is a problem-solver on the fly. He likes to jump into the rush when the opportunity presents itself, and he attacks high danger- or generates high danger chances from the slot. His wrister is quick and accurate, and he likes to cut to the middle to unleash it. He walks the line to look for an avenue to dissect coverage by opening seams, while dodging defenders- and he knows when to pinch into the play without leaving his partner hanging out to dry. He's the ideal powerplay quarterback, with poise and patience.

Unlike some other offensive defensemen, Buium has a defensive conscience, and though he is always in constant motion, he's a calming presence on the backend for his teammates. He's an asset in his own zone, hounding puck-carriers, staying stapled to his man to eliminate time and space, and separate man from puck. He understands space and angles, uses a well-timed stick, and keeps tight gaps against the rush. Buium is feisty, but not the most physical player- he will throw hits when necessary, but seems to prefer to use his speed and skill to win pucks. He doesn't shy away from the rough-going though, and will gladly take a hit to make a play, or pin an opponent to the boards. Big minutes are never a problem for him- he stays active, and has a high motor.

Buium is listed on most sites as being 6'0",183lbs- but he's listed on the NCAA website as measuring 6'2", and some writers describe him as having size. It wouldn't surprise me, as both of his brothers are above 6'3", but either way, he needs to get a lot stronger to win more board battles, and be much harder to play against. His shot is accurate, and he gets great whip on his wrister, but could use more power and velocity in his shooting arsenal. If he truly is 6'2", we will see his draft stock rise dramatically. He has excellent mobility, but has room to improve his straight-line top speed- otherwise, he's a pretty complete player and a future top-pairing defenseman, who may go top-10 in the Draft.