Red Wings prospect defenseman Shai Buium is playing in his junior season at the University of Denver, where his brother, Zeev (a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft) is playing on the Pioneers’ blueline as well. The Denver Post’s Kyle Newman spoke with both players regarding the fact that the brothers are on the same team (even though they’re not playing alongside one another):
“Shai’s primed and ready to go to take a huge step for us,” DU captain McKade Webster said. “He’s going to be one of our best defensemen, a huge penalty-kill guy. He’s obviously a power-play guy. He’s going to have to take steps into playing 25 minutes a night at every single position (on defense) and taking pride in shutting down teams’ first lines and also scoring goals and making assists.
“And you can tell Zeev, even as just a freshman, he’s in the same mold — an unbelievable skater, tough, and very intelligent with the puck.”
In 38 games as a sophomore last year, Shai underscored his reputation as an offensive defenseman with four goals and 17 assists, including three power-play goals and one game-winner. Selected by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2021 NHL draft, Shai said he’s embracing the “good pressure” that comes with being a centerpiece on a team with national title-or-bust expectations.
“Players come here because of the rich tradition and to vie for a national championship, and what’s why Zeev and I are both here,” Shai said. “We want to be the only one up there atop (the all-time title list). That’s our focus as brothers and as a team.”
While Shai is established, Zeev will have to earn his keep among 10 freshmen on the roster — DU’s largest incoming class in five years. The fresh-faced Pioneers are tied with Harvard for the second-youngest team in the country with an average age of 20.9.
Will Zeev, coming off a two-year stint in the United States National Team Development Program that culminated with a gold medal at the 2023 U18 World Championship, be ready to live up to the expectations attached to his last name?
