Zeev Buium: Age, Ethnicity, Stats, and NHL Facts

Zeev Buium’s hockey journey defies the typical path: born in San Diego to Israeli immigrants, he played in New Zealand, won gold with the U.S. national team, and became a first-round NHL pick — all before age 20. This article traces his transcontinental career from the Canterbury Red Devils to the Vancouver Canucks.

Age: 19 (born December 7, 2005) · Birthplace: San Diego, California · Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) · Weight: 183 lb (83 kg) · Draft: 12th overall, 2024 (Minnesota Wild) · Current Team: Vancouver Canucks

Here’s a quick-reference table with the key biographical details that define Zeev Buium’s profile as an NHL prospect.

Is Zeev Buium good?

Scouts and stat lines agree: Zeev Buium is not just good — he was one of the most productive teenage defensemen in NCAA history.

What are Zeev Buium’s career stats?

• In 41 games with the University of Denver in 2024-25, he recorded 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points (Denver Athletics)
• During 2023-24 (his official freshman season), he posted 11 goals and 39 assists for 50 points in 42 games, leading all NCAA defensemen in scoring (NHL.com)
• He ranked fourth in the NCAA with a +33 plus/minus rating in 2023-24 (Denver Athletics)

How did he perform at the University of Denver?

Buium averaged 27:03 of ice time per game — the highest among Denver defensemen — and was named NCHC Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-American (Denver Athletics). He was also the second-youngest player in Division I men’s hockey as a freshman.

What do scouts say about his playing style?

The scouting database Elite Prospects describes him as “intelligent, deceptive, skilled, even creative in a part of the game where being efficient would suffice.” That combination of creativity and efficiency is rare in a 19-year-old defenseman.

How old is Zeev Buium?

Zeev Buium is 19 years old, born December 7, 2005. He turned 18 midway through his freshman season at Denver.

What is the relationship between Zeev Buium and Will Smith?

No verified information connects Zeev Buium to Will Smith, the NHL forward drafted by San Jose in 2023. The two are not relatives and have not played together in the NHL or NCAA.

What ethnicity is Zeev Buium?

Zeev Buium is Israeli-American, a heritage that shapes both his identity and his hockey career.

Where are Zeev Buium’s parents from?

His parents are Israeli immigrants. According to NCHC Hockey, the family is of Israeli descent and the parents moved from Israel to Southern California. The Atlanta Jewish Times adds that they married in Israel after serving in the army before settling in the U.S.

What is Zeev Buium’s nationality?

He holds both U.S. and Israeli citizenship. He was born in San Diego, California, and has represented Israel in international competition. Religion Unplugged reports that he is believed to be the first NHL player born to Israeli parents.

Is Zeev Buium Jewish?

Yes. His Jewish identity is publicly acknowledged through his family background and his participation in events such as the Maccabiah Games. NCHC Hockey notes that both Buium brothers are sons of Israeli immigrants who maintain Jewish traditions.

The implication: Buium brings a rare dual-heritage narrative to the NHL, one that resonates with Israel’s growing hockey community and with Jewish fans worldwide.

Who is the father of Zeev Buium?

The full name and profession of Zeev Buium’s father are not specified in available sources. He is known to be an Israeli immigrant who moved to the U.S. with his wife.

Is Zeev Buium from San Diego?

Yes, he was born in San Diego, California, and grew up in the area before moving to New Zealand for hockey.

Is Zeev Buium related to Shai Buium?

Yes, they are brothers — and both are NHL prospects charting parallel paths from San Diego to the league.

Who is Shai Buium?

Shai Buium is a defenseman drafted by the Detroit Red Wings (36th overall in 2021). He currently plays in the AHL for the Grand Rapids Griffins and has represented Israel internationally as well (Denver Athletics)

What is the relationship between Zeev and Shai Buium?

Zeev is Shai’s younger brother. They played together at the University of Denver during the 2023-24 season (NCHC Hockey). Both brothers also played in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League — Zeev with Canterbury Red Devils, Shai with the same team a year earlier — a rare shared experience for future NHLers.

Are the Buium brothers both NHL prospects?

Yes. Shai is a second-round pick in the Red Wings system; Zeev went 12th overall. The NCHC Hockey feature calls their journey “unlikely” and “a testament to sacrifice and commitment.”

The pattern: the Buium brothers’ shared NZIHL experience highlights a unique developmental path for NHL prospects.

Where did Zeev Buium go to college?

He played for the University of Denver Pioneers in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), one of the most competitive conferences in NCAA Division I hockey.

What college hockey conference does Zeev Buium play in?

• Conference: NCHC (Denver Athletics)
• He earned NCHC Rookie of the Year honors (2023-24) (NCHC Hockey)

How did Zeev Buium perform in college?

In addition to his 48-point 2024-25 season, he led Denver’s defense in scoring and averaged 27:03 minutes per game (Denver Athletics)

What awards did Zeev Buium win in college?

• NCHC Rookie of the Year (2024) (NCHC Hockey)
• First-Team All-American (2024-25) (Denver Athletics)

The catch: Buium was so dominant early that he left college after one full season. His rapid ascent means the Canucks will need to manage expectations carefully — the jump from NCAA to NHL is steep, even for a player with his pedigree.

What high school did Zeev Buium attend?

Zeev Buium’s high school history is not publicly documented. He played for the Canterbury Red Devils in New Zealand during his teenage years and later joined the U.S. National Team Development Program.

What is Zeev Buium’s connection to Denver?

He played one season for the University of Denver Pioneers, where he set freshman scoring records for a defenseman and was named an All-American.

Which NHL team drafted Zeev Buium?

The Minnesota Wild selected him 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. But he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks later that same year.

What is Zeev Buium’s draft position?

12th overall — the highest a player of Israeli-American heritage has ever been selected (NHL.com)

Has Zeev Buium been traded?

Yes. According to NHL.com/Canucks, Buium was traded from the Wild to the Vancouver Canucks in 2024 as part of a multi-player transaction. His rights and entry-level contract transferred to Vancouver.

What team does Zeev Buium play for now?

He is a member of the Vancouver Canucks organization. He has signed a three-year entry-level contract ($950,000 AAV) and is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp for the 2025-26 season (CapFriendly)

The pattern: the trade creates a high-stakes dynamic for both franchises.

Six key specs that define Zeev Buium as an NHL prospect.

Timeline

• December 7, 2005 – Born in San Diego, California.
• 2021-2022 – Plays for Canterbury Red Devils in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NCHC Hockey)
• 2022-2023 – Earns a full-time role with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP); leads NTDP defense with 40 points in 63 games (NCHC Hockey)
• 2023 (May) – Helps the United States win gold at the U-18 World Junior Championship, recording six points in seven games (NCHC Hockey)
• 2023-2024 – Enters University of Denver; becomes the second-youngest player in Division I men’s hockey; scores 50 points in 42 games (Denver Athletics)
• June 2024 – Selected 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the NHL Entry Draft (NHL.com)
• 2024 – Traded to the Vancouver Canucks; signs entry-level contract (NHL.com/Canucks)
• 2024-2025 – Completes freshman season at Denver with 48 points in 41 games; named First-Team All-American.

The timeline shows Buium’s rapid progression from New Zealand to the NHL in just four years.

What’s clear, what’s not

The pattern: while many core facts are verified, several biographical details remain unconfirmed.

Quotes

“He is intelligent, deceptive, skilled, even creative in a part of the game where being efficient would suffice.”

— Elite Prospects (hockey scouting database)

“[The Buium brothers’] sacrifice and commitment… an unlikely hockey journey pays off.”

— NCHC Hockey (college hockey conference feature)

For the Vancouver Canucks, the bet on Zeev Buium is clear: acquire a top-12 talent before he even plays an NHL game. If he translates his college dominance to the professional level, they’ve landed a cornerstone defenseman. If not, the risk was limited to the trade package they sent to Minnesota. The decision for the Wild, who watched him go, is to be patient — or regret what could have been.

For more details on Zeev Buiums background and college career, including his pronunciation, college statistics, and multicultural upbringing, check out the full profile.

Frequently asked questions