Canucks leadership says it’s approaching Zeev Buium’s second NHL season with patience despite an eight-year, $75-million US extension that raises expectations.
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Vancouver Canucks management and coaching staff say they are approaching Zeev Buium’s sophomore season with patience, even after signing him to an eight-year, $75-million US extension that immediately raised expectations about his NHL readiness.
The message coming out of the organization is that prospects should not be rushed before they are ready, and that the club is planning for Buium’s long-term development rather than treating the contract as a short-term timeline.
In describing the contract, Canucks leadership tied the deal to the organization’s view of where Buium will be in several years. General manager Ryan Johnson said the extension is “not about how [Buium is] performing ‘today or tomorrow,’” but about the team’s development timeline three, four and five years out.
Buium said the extension does not change how he views pressure or performance. He said the biggest pressure comes from playing for himself and focusing on outplaying his own standards, adding that his goal is to come out each night feeling he has performed at his best.
Head coach Manny Malhotra said the organization plans to treat Buium like any other player while building a foundation at the right pace. He acknowledged that young players will make mistakes as part of development and said the focus is on supporting Buium’s overall game rather than trying to eliminate errors immediately.
In early camp, Vancouver’s staff has also been monitoring how Buium is used, including practices that paired him with veteran defenceman Luke Schenn. Malhotra cautioned that a couple of days of practice should not be treated as a firm conclusion, but the pairing was viewed as one way the Canucks are managing pressure around a highly valued prospect.
Schenn, 36, told reporters he is confident in Buium and sees upside in him. He said he has watched Buium develop since his time with the Minnesota Wild, including running a power play in the 2025 playoffs and following the trade back to Vancouver’s side. Schenn said he feels fortunate to play with Buium.
Buium said he is comfortable playing alongside a veteran and described Schenn as an experienced leader who treats him like both a player and a person rather than focusing on his youth. He said having that presence to talk to is something his team needed.
The Canucks also highlighted Buium’s background as he prepares for his second season. Buium was drafted 12th overall in the 2024 draft and does not turn 21 until December. He has played for Team USA at senior, junior and under-18 levels, winning a national title at the University of Denver as part of his junior and U18 experience. This summer, Buium said he focused on getting stronger and faster, along with skills work with Geoff Sanderson and Cutter Gauthier at a camp in Wisconsin, and two weeks skating in Arizona with players including Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller and Tage Thompson.
Buium split his rookie season between Minnesota and Vancouver, and the organization’s approach to his second season is being framed as a mix of growth, mentorship and a longer-term plan—rather than an immediate push for results.
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