Behind the scenes for Zeev Buium's final days with Denver before joining the Wild

ST.

LOUIS Zeev Buium, one of the slickest skaters in college hockey, was slowed to a screeching halt Thursday night.

Buiums quest to win back-to-back NCAA titles with Denver had just been dashed with a 3-2 double overtime loss to Western Michigan.

The moment brought Buium, 19, down to one knee on the ice behind the net, where the Minnesota Wilds top prospect remained stunned for several minutes.

Advertisement His head was hung for a bit, then he peeked up to watch the Broncos celebrate at mid-ice.

Buium had played a gutsy 51 minutes in the Frozen Four semifinal, with several game-breaking moments.

But his final collegiate shift, the first of the second overtime, ended with a centering pass deflecting off his stick right to Owen Michaels, who ripped the winner bar-down from the slot.

Ninety-nine times out of 100, Buium breaks that rush up.

Kills the play.

I thought we had it, Buium said.

Buium hates to lose.

Teammates say hes almost maniacal about it.

So this one stung.

It helps that Buium is a two-time World Junior champion and won the national championship last season and that hes now achieving his NHL dream, signing with the Wild over the weekend and slated to make his debut Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.

But in this particular moment, time seemed to stand still.

Several teammates came to console Buium, who was one of the last to enter the handshake line.

He hugged as many teammates as he could before leaving the ice, from Wild prospect Rieger Lorenz to captain and roommate Carter King to goalie and also roommate Matt Davis.

King and Davis took Buium under their wings at DU, teaching him everything from how to cook a steak to how to turn on a dishwasher.

There werent many words from Buium other than thank you and I love you.

He put his heart and soul into this program, Lorenz said.

Buium promised to keep two feet in at Denver this season, despite significant attention and the expectation hed go pro after the season.

He didnt talk about the NHL during team dinners or ping-pong battles last week in the teams hotel lounge.

But the moment Michaels wrister went in, the reality started to sink in.

So when Buium and his Pioneer teammates headed back to the hotel for one last night as a group, they didnt want it to end.

Advertisement The games and conversations started in the lounge and carried on as players bounced to each others rooms.

The Athletic spent part of last week behind the scenes with Buium during his final days in college, and it was very easy to glean what hed soon bring to the next level and the Wild and what he leaves behind.

Its tough.

Its never easy (leaving), Buium said.

The great part about Denver is these relationships will last a lifetime.

Ill be in touch with those guys.

Its never goodbye.

Its more, See ya later.' Buium chatted with his older brother, Shai, on Tuesday, the day the Pioneers traveled to St.

Louis.

The two are very close.

Their favorite memory so far was winning the national title together with Denver last year in St.

Paul.

One of their most prized photos is of them together on the ice, holding the trophy.

That was crazy, Shai said.

Honestly, you never expect that to really happen.

You dream about it, but coming true? Just being with my brother and doing that with him and my family, my parents there.

We were pretty shocked.

You never know how our career could go, but we ended up at the same school together and winning a championship.

Thats the dream.

Shai went pro after last season, signing an entry-level deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

Hes currently with the AHL club, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Hes encouraged Zeev over the past few months to stay in the moment and enjoy every day, because professional hockey isnt the same.

Youre not with your 25 best friends every day, watching hockey, playing bags in the backyard.

Its a job.

On Tuesday, while Shai was on a four-hour bus ride to Cleveland, Zeev was in a ping-pong battle with King, losing two out of three but laughing after.

Have you been thinking about leaving Denver? Shai asked his brother.

Advertisement A little bit, Zeev admitted.

But Zeev told his brother he just wanted to win and let everything else happen afterward.

He missed not having Shai on this run.

The two are the yin and yang for each other, both in personality and size.

Zeev was always the jokester, the wild child, the one who had to keep his emotions in check.

Shai calmed everything down.

In the Pioneers locker room, Shai was called mega and Zeev little man.

Not many thought Zeev was going to be going as a high first-rounder or jump straight to the NHL when he arrived at Denver two years ago.

Even Shai.

Honestly, he shocked me last year, Shai said.

I saw him at the U.S.

NTDP, and I didnt know.

I came to a few games, and I was like, Wow, hes better than I thought.

...

Hes impressed me, dealing with the hype.

Its not easy to come back after the season he had freshman year and do the same thing all over again.

I think confidence is a huge part of it, but its just been staying in the moment all the time for him.

Hes never really thinking ahead.

Hes always dialed into the moment, keeping it loose.

Hes not overly thinking, Ive got to do this.

I want to make the NHL.

He just does his thing and goes about his life.

Shai is a big reason Zeev is playing hockey in the first place, and why we went to Denver.

They watched their cousin play when they were ages 6 and 4.

Shai was hooked immediately, and Zeev started soon after, initially trying rollerblading.

They ended up playing for the Junior Kings in Los Angeles, with their mother, Miriam, making the 112-mile road trip from San Diego for practices.

Theyd be in their GMC Yukon, with mom packing containers of chicken and rice and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Enough fuel for the round trip.

It felt normal, Zeev said.

I didnt realize how crazy it was until a few years ago.

If she didnt do that, Shai says, We wouldnt be here.

Advertisement The two went to Shattuck St.

Marys, the powerhouse prep program in Minnesota.

And when Shai took his recruiting trip to Denver, Zeev came along.

So did Miriam.

They toured the facility and campus.

They sat down in David Carles office, and the coach offered Shai a scholarship.

Shai, the more reserved and deliberate son, said hed have to go home and think it over.

Zeev looked at his brother like he was crazy.

It was like, If he doesnt want to go, I will,' Miriam recalled.

Zeev didnt need to visit any other campus.

He was Denver all the way.

That led to some trash talk between Buium and U.S.

National Team Development Program and World Juniors teammates like Boston Colleges Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.

Hes taken a lot of crap from them, Carle said.

Theyre best of friends.

There was a lot of talk at the program (about) how at BC were going to beat you guys.

Youre going to lose a lot and were going to kick your ass.' Buium went 2-0 against Boston College in the NCAA Tournament, including last years title game and this years regional final.

There was a lot of trash talk between a few of us, Buium said.

Theres one of me here and eight of them on that team (BC).

I got the last laugh, twice.

Not a lot of chirping anymore.

But its all in good fun.

It just happened in the moment, but looking back, its funny.

Something we laugh about now.

Zeev Buium just told the BC bench see ya after icing the game and sending Denver to the Frozen Four (via @NCAAIceHockey ) pic.twitter.com/Ln8ZiLTCFa B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 31, 2025 Buium carried a couple of bags a red Denver equipment one and a black backpack as he entered the lobby of Denvers team hotel Tuesday.

He dropped his stuff in his room and got ready for the first of two dinners, paid for by former Pioneers who have made their way to the NHL: Tuesdays at Cafe Napoli by Troy Terry and Logan OConnor and Wednesdays at Vitos Sicilian Restaurante by Paul Stastny and Blues coach Jim Montgomery.

Advertisement What did the San Diego native Buium order Tuesday? Surf and turf, he said, smiling.

They returned to the team lounge that night for some friendly competition.

King said he ran the ping-pong table, beating Buium in a heated two out of three.

He got the better of me, Buium said.

This team battles over everything, from sewer ball (the pregame soccer routine) to cornhole to riddles at the dinner table.

And Carle and many teammates say Buium is the most competitive person theyve ever been around.

That guy hates to lose, said McKade Webster, the former Pioneers captain.

I had to constantly settle him down last year and in practice.

Sometimes, hed just explode.

I dont think Ive ever seen a guy like that.

Hes incredibly skilled.

But away from the rink, hes one of the best teammates any of us have ever had.

Hes had the most confidence Ive ever seen of a kid coming into college.

Hes going to have a long career.

Former goalie Jack Caruso recalled a conversation he had with Buium a few months ago when the Pioneers had lost a couple of games in a row.

Buium was ticked.

All I want to do is win, he told Caruso.

This kid has won U18 worlds, World Juniors, a national championship, then another worlds, Caruso said.

Thats all hes done, yet hes losing his mind about (a couple of regular-season losses).

It would be very easy for him to be content.

Everything has gone his way where he went in the draft, how much hes won yet hes hungry for more.

I dont think you can teach that.

Buium and teammates went through pre-practice media day activities Wednesday afternoon.

They answered silly questions for Jumbotron spots during games.

A few players even courageously attempted a karaoke segment to the Backstreet Boys I Want It That Way.

Buium also did a video interview with ESPNs John Buccigross, answering questions about his lack of surfing skills (Im more of a body surfer), how often he watches Wild games and if hes ever been told he looks like a young Rick Tocchet (I heard it at the combine).

Advertisement The jokes, but not the fun, were over at what turned out to be Buiums final college practice.

He acted like it was his last, staying on the ice past the buzzer (when the team is supposed to leave the ice so it could be prepared for the next session).

A press conference, with Buium a key participant, was scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m., but he stayed out there, practicing deflections, working on one-timers, scoring a goal and doing a pretend celebration, sliding on one knee up the boards then smacking the glass with his fists.

He then spent several minutes signing autographs from fans, and putting hats, pucks and shirts over the glass in the tunnel on the way to the dressing room.

Im just soaking it in, he said.

To be at an event like this and play for a trophy this big, its the best time of the year.

Its why you play college hockey.

Its why you play high-level hockey.

No better time than now.

Miriam Buium couldnt sleep in the days leading up to the Frozen Four.

Because I know whats next, she said.

So much high expectations.

That included both the Pioneers trying to win a national title and the Wild looking to bring him into the fold as they pursue a playoff spot.

He always said, My first priority is to win a championship.

When Im done, Im ready to go to the next level,' Miriam said.

For the semifinal against Western Michigan, Miriam and her husband, Sorin, sat (well, mostly stood) in section 114.

Miriam wore one of Zeevs red Denver jerseys.

Sorin, who runs an HVAC company in Southern California, wore a black T-shirt and Denver hat.

He was saving Shais game-worn national title game jersey from last year signed by the team for Saturdays championship game.

Sorin brought up the makeshift gym he made in the familys garage during COVID-19.

Zeev, Shai and their oldest brother, Ben, 24, would work out there.

Miriam said Zeevs growth spurt sparked a jump from 5-foot-2 to around 5-10 during his years at Shattuck until Denver.

Its crazy were here now, Sorin said.

Advertisement The Buiums were on ESPNs cameras for a good chunk of Thursdays game.

They squirmed when Zeev got banged up in the second period, not completely able to spin out of a check against the boards behind the Denver net.

Miriam popped out of her seat when Zeev had a golden opportunity in overtime, darting to the front of the net before getting tripped and losing the puck.

There were some difficult moments, with Zeev turning over the puck several times a few for breakaways.

But Zeevs guts and game-breaking ability showed, including on the beauty of a zone entry to set up the Pioneers tying goal with three minutes left in the third period.

Denver's game tying goal started with Zeev Buium https://t.co/r0owNJ3VVD pic.twitter.com/0PbTTVptQy Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) April 10, 2025 A clutch player, former World Juniors teammate Cole Huston called Buium.

Absolutely dominating, Boston University star Cole Eiserman said.

Theres a reason he went as high as he did in the draft, Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler said.

The Minnesota Wild will have a special player there.

Hes going to step into the National Hockey League and be a difference-maker, much like Brock Faber was.

Zeev has that ability to just decide to score and take over a game and make people miss.

Hes done that game in and game out this season.

Buiums teammates flew home Friday, but he stuck around for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award presentation.

He bounced around the town during the day with his girlfriend, then joined his parents, Carle and a few others from the school at the event.

Buium said growing up in San Diego, he never envisioned the chance to win such an award.

Buiums former World Juniors teammate Isaac Howard (Michigan State) won in a close vote, but Buium was all smiles afterward.

Just to be mentioned with those guys, he said, its an honor.

Advertisement Buium and his family joined for a group hug after the presentation.

Hed have dinner that night with his family and agent Kurt Overhardt before flying to Minnesota on Saturday ahead of Mondays first practice with the Wild.

Im very excited about whats to come, Buium said.

I cant wait to get there and throw on that jersey.

Buium is one of five first-round picks in Denvers program history, and Carle believes he will make an impact on the Wild right away.

He raved about Buiums competitive spirit and desire to win.

Its uncertain how Buium will fit into the lineup of a Wild team fighting for its playoff lives heading into Tuesdays regular-season finale, but hes ready for anything.

Well see what happens, he said.

Im ready for whatever.

I just want to be able to do whatever I can to help their team and organization.

I know those guys have been fighting for a long time and done a heck of a job.

Its been so fun to watch.

Whatever I can do to help.

Buiums parents flew back to California on Saturday but booked flights to Minnesota for Tuesdays Wild game against the Ducks.

They got tickets, too, anticipating it being Zeevs first NHL game.

Its like a movie, Sorin said, shaking his head and smiling.

Were riding the wave.

(Top photos: Joe Smith / The Athletic ).

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