Kevin Bieksa breaks down Quinn Hughes' legacy and what Zeev Buium brings to Vancouver
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey Writers
NHL insider Kevin Bieksa broke down exactly what Quinn Hughes meant to the city of Vancouver, and why fans should be excited for Zeev Buium's arrival.
It's been a whirlwind 24 hours in Vancouver after Friday night's news: the Canucks traded franchise cornerstone and captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.
What Kevin Bieksa had to say about Quinn Hughes
On Hockey Night in Canada Saturday on Sportsnet, former Canucks blue-liner Kevin Bieksa weighed in on the deal. He said it stings to lose Hughes, but he mentioned the return being a strong spot for Vancouver, especially on the blue line.
"His legacy in Vancouver will be that he raised the bar for Canucks' defencemen," Bieksa said. "The greatest defenceman ever, only Norris Trophy winner."
- Kevin Bieksa
- Kevin Bieksa
A centerpiece in the return is 20-year-old defenseman Zeev Buium. Having been drafted in 2024 and making his NHL debut this season, Buium might be a name many Canucks fans don't know yet.
Why Kevin Bieksa believes Zeev Buium is a good replacement for Quinn Hughes
Bieksa has spent time watching him on the ice and believes that the young defenceman has the tools to step into a big role, providing elements that could soften Hughes's exit.
"One of these new-age ultra-confident kids," Bieksa said. "Not a kid who's nervous, maybe tip-toeing. He wants to be on the ice 25 minutes a night, he wants to make plays. He's a little bit bigger than Quinn, and he's gonna defend pretty good and pretty hard. But his offensive upside, I mean how can you say someone's gonna be like Quinn Hughes, but he's gonna get pretty close. He's gonna make Canucks fans forget about Quinn fairly quickly. I think this kid will be very interesting to watch, and I think you'll see short-term results."
- Kevin Bieksa
- Kevin Bieksa
This season, Buium has three goals and 11 assists in 31 games with Minnesota. Before turning pro, he played two seasons at the University of Denver, tallying 24 goals and 98 points in 83 games.
He's also shown his mettle on the international stage, posting two goals and four assists at last year's World Junior Championship. At 6-foot and 183 pounds, he brings size and mobility to Vancouver's back end.
Buium, along with Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, took part in Saturday's practice with the Canucks under head coach Adam Foote. All three are expected to make their Vancouver debut Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 14 | 225 ANSWERS Kevin Bieksa breaks down Quinn Hughes' legacy and what Zeev Buium brings to Vancouver Are you excited to see Zeev Buium put on a Canucks uniform? | ||
| Yes | 209 | 92.9 % |
| No | 16 | 7.1 % |
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