Zeev Buium: Age, Ethnicity, Pronunciation & Draft Profile

Most 18-year-old defensemen don’t average 27 minutes a night in NCAA hockey, but Zeev Buium did. The Israeli-American blueliner, selected 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, brings a rare combination of offensive flair and poise to the Minnesota Wild’s pipeline.

Date of birth: December 7, 2005 · Place of birth: San Diego, California · Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) · Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) · Draft year: 2024 · Draft pick: 12th overall (Minnesota Wild)

Twelve key facts, one pattern: Buium’s profile blends elite draft pedigree, a warm-weather upbringing, and a family hockey tradition that sets him apart. The table below distills his core stats and identifiers.

The pattern: Buium is one of the few first-round picks in recent memory who grew up playing hockey in Southern California, a region that produces far more surfers than NHL defensemen.

What ethnicity is Zeev Buium?

Buium is Israeli-American. His father, Yuval Buium, was born in Israel and played ice hockey there before the family moved to the United States (Denver Pioneers roster). Buium himself was born in San Diego, California, making him a dual-heritage athlete who has represented the United States at the international junior level. He is also Jewish, a heritage that has drawn attention given the rarity of Jewish players in NHL pipeline history.

How good is Zeev Buium?

Scouts and draft analysts place Buium among the top defensive prospects of the 2024 class. He was rated the top American-born player and ranked No. 4 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting (Denver Pioneers roster). In his freshman season at the University of Denver, he posted 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) in 41 games (Elite Prospects player page), a scoring rate rare for a first-year defenseman. He averaged 27:03 of ice time per game (NHL.com draft announcement), often playing the most minutes on the team.

A CBS News Colorado report noted he was the first Denver freshman since 1983-84 to record a 50-point season. Buium led the Pioneers with 39 assists and 11 goals as a freshman, numbers that propelled him into first-round conversation.

The implication: Buium’s freshman scoring rate places him in a tier with NCAA defensemen who typically become top-four NHL contributors within two to three seasons.

How do you pronounce Zeev Buium?

The University of Denver’s official roster provides a phonetic guide: “Boo-y-YUM, Zee-v” (Denver Pioneers roster). The first name Zeev rhymes with “sleeve,” and the last name Buium is pronounced “Boo-yoom.” It’s a Hebrew name that often trips up English-speaking broadcasters, but the two-syllable breakdown is straightforward once heard.

How old is Zeev Buium?

Buium was born December 7, 2005 in San Diego, California (Denver Pioneers roster; Elite Prospects player page). He turned 18 on December 7, 2023 (Denver Pioneers roster). That made him the second-youngest player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey as a freshman during the 2023-24 season.

Who is the father of Zeev Buium?

Buium’s father is Yuval Buium, an Israeli-born ice hockey player who competed for Israel’s national team and later moved the family to the United States (Denver Pioneers roster). Yuval’s hockey background helped introduce Zeev to the sport at an early age in San Diego, a city not traditionally known for producing NHL draft picks.

Is Zeev Buium expected to be drafted?

That question was settled on June 28, 2024, when the Minnesota Wild selected Buium with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the NHL Draft (NHL.com draft announcement). There is no speculation left; he was drafted and has since signed an entry-level contract.

Buium’s rookie season at Denver produced numbers that only a handful of NCAA defensemen have matched in the past four decades. His jump to the Wild’s playoff lineup within a year of being drafted shows the organization’s belief in his readiness. For the Minnesota Wild, the choice is clear: let Buium develop his game at the pro level, either in the AHL or on the NHL roster, and trust that his offensive instincts will translate quickly. The Wild’s front office will decide whether he starts 2025-26 in the AHL or on the NHL roster, but his playoff debut signals they believe he is close.