The Minnesota Wild’s 2024–25 NHL season showcases a remarkable display of resilience and competitive spirit on the ice. Currently boasting a record of 44–30–7, the team has accumulated 95 points and occupies the fourth position in the Central Division, narrowly ahead of the St. Louis Blues. As the postseason looms, the Wild are focused on harnessing their momentum to make a noteworthy impression in the playoffs. However, there are still several regular season games left to play, and in their matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, one of their recent signings will be getting a chance on the ice. Who might that be?
On April 13, 2025, the Minnesota Wild made headlines by signing defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year, entry-level contract. The agreement holds an average yearly worth of $966,500, featuring a $97,500 signing bonus annually, plus a $25,000 performance bonus contingent upon his participation in five games this season. This move certainly represents a significant risk for the Wild, yet they find themselves with little choice but to invest in their prospect, especially given that their other star defensemen are sidelined due to injuries.
However, with Buium set to join the Wild in the NHL, he must depart from Denver. According to The Athletic, the emotional hockey prospect shared his thoughts on his recent signing with the franchise, saying, “It’s tough. It’s never easy (leaving). The great part about Denver is these relationships will last a lifetime. I’ll be in touch with those guys. It’s never goodbye. It’s more, ‘See ya later.’”
This illustrates the strong connections Buium established while at the University of Denver Pioneers. Indeed, he emerged as a standout moment on national television, exclaiming, “It’s f****** unbelievable! Oh, sorry. Uh, it’s great.” F bomb on national television! It’s unlikely that he acted with intent, yet his genuine emotions surfaced after clinching the NCAA championship with the Pioneers. What about his career?
Buium, in his freshman year as a defenseman, made an immediate impact on the ice, garnering several honors such as the NCHC Player of the Month for November and Rookie of the Month for December. His offensive skills shone through as he topped all NCHC players in November with 14 points, including 11 assists and three goals, over the course of eight games. Buium’s remarkable consistency shone through with an impressive eight-game point streak, matching the record for the longest by a Pioneer freshman defenseman since 2002.
During his tenure in Denver, Buium has garnered recognition for his leadership and expertise, receiving numerous weekly and monthly accolades. His contributions have been crucial to Denver’s impressive performances, including their national championship journey, making it understandably difficult for him to part ways with a community that has shown him so much affection. However, with his arrival at the Wild, he faces a challenging task ahead.
A job to be done for the Minnesota Wild
As of April 14, 2025, the Minnesota Wild remain on the outside looking in for a chance to secure a position in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team is presently occupying the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference, boasting a record of 44 wins, 30 losses, and 7 overtime losses, which amounts to a total of 95 points.
Nonetheless, their playoff spot is still uncertain, given the tight race with the St. Louis Blues, who have 94 points, and the Calgary Flames at 92 points. Both teams still have games left that could impact the ultimate standings. The Wild are set to face off against the Anaheim Ducks in their final regular-season game on April 15, 2025. A victory in this match would greatly improve their odds of clinching a playoff position.
However, their qualification is also contingent upon the results of the upcoming matches involving the Blues and Flames. Clearly, this is not favorable news for the franchise, which had been performing admirably and was in playoff contention just a few weeks prior. Wild is undeniably at a disadvantage, as their primary lineup has been significantly impacted by numerous injuries. Nonetheless, several key players who were previously sidelined due to injuries, such as Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, have now returned to the ice. Only time will reveal how they will perform in the face of competition.
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