MLive’s Ansar Khan looks back to the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp this morning, discussing big defenseman Shai Buium’s learning curve as the University of Denver alumnus graduates to play pro hockey in Grand Rapids.
The 21-year-old defender played in 1 game for the Griffins this past spring, after his University of Denver Pioneers won their second NCAA Division 1 Hockey Championship in 3 seasons. Buium told Khan that he needs to keep working on his skating as he “turns pro”:
“Obviously, the game gets faster, guys are stronger,” Buium said this month at Red Wings development camp. “Skating and building strength, I think they come together. When you have good strength and your edgework is getting better, it’ll come together and you’ll be a better skater, faster and stronger.”
The Red Wings selected Buium 36th overall (second round) in 2021 and watched the 6-4, 210-pound left-shooting defenseman progress each season. He tallied seven goals and 36 points in 43 games last season, doubling his production from his freshman year.
“I think I got a lot better defensively,” Buium said. “Just learn new things every year. I like to be a sponge and just take it all in. Good defense just generates more offense for me. I like to be on the offensive side of things and playing good defense helps with that.”
Buium joins former Denver teammates Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto in Grand Rapids, after winning an NCAA title with them in 2022. He joins a Griffins defense that won’t have Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson, who’ll be in Detroit, and will feature fellow prospects Tuomisto, William Wallinder and Eemil Viro as well as veterans Brogan Rafferty, Josiah Didier, William Lagesson and Tory Dello.
Continued (paywall); Shai doesn’t have his brother Zeev’s offensive upside, but the elder Buium is likely to become a shut-down defenseman with a bit of a mean streak.
