Canucks sign Buium to eight-year, $75 million contract

The NHL's Vancouver Canucks have reached an agreement with defenseman Zeev Buium on a new eight-year contract. The American player will earn an average of $9.38 million per season, bringing the total value of the deal to approximately $75 million.

Path to Vancouver

The 20-year-old defenseman joined the Canucks last December, when the club acquired him from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for its longtime defensive leader Quinn Hughes. At the time, the trade was one of the season's biggest storylines.

Stats and background

Last season, the offensive-minded defenseman played 45 games for the Canucks, scoring three goals and adding nine assists. Over his NHL career with the Wild and Canucks combined, Buium has appeared in 76 regular-season games, tallying 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists).

The San Diego-born player was selected by Minnesota with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Before turning professional, Buium played for the University of Denver, helping the team win the NCAA championship that same year.

The new eight-year deal signals that Vancouver views Buium as one of its long-term defensive cornerstones. The agreement, carrying an average salary of $9.38 million per season, comes less than a year after the club acquired him in the major trade for Hughes.