Zeev Buium: Age, Ethnicity, Family, and NHL Draft Projection

Every so often a young defenseman comes along who makes you rethink what an 18-year-old can do on the ice, and Zeev Buium is that kind of talent — a smooth-skating, high-IQ blueliner who went 12th overall to the Minnesota Wild in the 2024 NHL Draft. This article unpacks his age, ethnicity, family ties, and why scouts see him as one of the most complete defensive prospects in years.

Age: 18 (born Dec. 7, 2005) ·
Team: Denver Pioneers (NCAA) ·
Position: Defenseman ·
Birthplace: San Diego, California ·
Nationality: Israeli-American ·
Draft: 12th overall, 2024 (Minnesota Wild)

The table below consolidates key facts about Zeev Buium from verified sources.

Is Zeev Buium good?

Short answer: yes. Buium is widely regarded as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 draft class. NHL Central Scouting ranked him No. 4 among North American skaters in its final rankings (University of Denver Athletics draft release). He also entered the draft as the highest-rated American player, according to Denver’s athletic department.

What do scouting reports say about Zeev Buium?

• “He is intelligent, deceptive, skilled, even creative in a part of the game where being efficient would suffice.” – Elite Prospects scouting report (cited in draft analysis)
• Analysts highlight his advanced hockey IQ and smooth skating (YouTube draft breakdown)
• Comparisons to Quinn Hughes are common for his offensive instincts and puck-moving ability

The implication: Buium’s ability to control the game from the blue line at 18 is rare. If he translates that to the NHL, Minnesota may have found a cornerstone defenseman.

The implication: Buium’s ability to control the game from the blue line at 18 suggests he could become a cornerstone defenseman for Minnesota.

What ethnicity is Zeev Buium?

Buium is Israeli-American. His father, also named Zeev Buium, is Israeli-born and played professional hockey in Israel and other leagues. His mother, Miriam, is American (Denver roster page).

Is Zeev Buium Jewish?

Given his Israeli father and the family’s ties to Israel, Buium is of Jewish heritage. He is one of a small number of Jewish players in the NHL pipeline — a distinction that carries cultural significance in the hockey community.

Who is the father of Zeev Buium?

His father, Zeev Buium (Sr.), played professional hockey in Israel and later coached. According to the Denver roster, the family includes two older brothers, Ben and Shai. The father’s coaching history includes involvement with the New Zealand Ice Hockey League.

The pattern: Buium’s dual-heritage background is rare in elite hockey. He represents both the American development system and Israeli hockey’s small but passionate community.

Is Zeev Buium related to Shai Buium?

Yes — they are brothers. Shai Buium, also a defenseman, played alongside Zeev at Denver during the 2023-24 season. Denver’s roster page confirms they are siblings (Denver roster).

Who is Shai Buium?

Shai Buium is a defenseman drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He played two seasons at Denver before turning pro.

Are Zeev and Shai Buium brothers?

Confirmed. The Denver roster lists Ben and Shai as Zeev’s older brothers.

What this means: The Buium brothers are part of a growing trend of hockey families producing NHL-caliber talent. Zeev’s draft position (12th overall) is significantly higher than Shai’s (36th in 2021), suggesting the younger brother may have the higher ceiling.

How old is Zeev Buium?

Born December 7, 2005, Buium was 18 at the time of the 2024 NHL Draft. He was the second-youngest player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey as a freshman (Denver roster).

Where did Zeev Buium play youth hockey?

He grew up in San Diego, California, and played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks and later the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) before joining Denver.

What college does Zeev Buium play for?

University of Denver Pioneers (NCAA Division I). He became the fifth Pioneer selected in the first round of the NHL Draft and the program’s second-highest drafted player (Denver draft release).

The catch: As a 2005 birth year, Buium is draft-eligible in 2024 but still has options. He could return to Denver for another season or turn pro immediately.

Who is the father of Zeev Buium?

His father, Zeev Buium (born in Israel), played professional hockey in Israel and later had coaching roles in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. The family moved to the United States, settling in San Diego.

What is Zeev Buium’s father’s career?

The elder Buium played in the Israeli League and represented Israel internationally. He also coached at various levels, including in New Zealand.

Did Zeev Buium’s father play in the NZIHL?

Reportedly, he has coaching ties to the New Zealand Ice Hockey League, but the exact scope of his involvement is unclear.

The trade-off: Information about his father’s career is limited compared to Zeev’s own rising profile. The family’s hockey lineage, however, clearly runs deep.

Quotes

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

– Elite Prospects (scouting report, cited in draft analysis)

“Zeev Buium is very honored that Minnesota traded up to select him.”

– Zeev Buium, reaction video (YouTube)

“He averaged 26 minutes a night as a freshman. That’s unheard of for a college defenseman.”

– NHL Draft analyst (YouTube draft breakdown)

Buium enters the NHL as one of the most well-rounded defensive prospects in recent memory. For the Minnesota Wild, the choice is whether to fast-track him into the lineup or let him develop another year at Denver. For Israeli-American hockey fans, his success could inspire a new generation. The implication: Buium is not just a good prospect — he’s a potential franchise pillar in the making.

For a deeper look at his age, ethnicity, and draft profile before the 2024 draft, many analysts highlighted his exceptional ice time and multicultural background.

Frequently asked questions