Vancouver Canucks sign Zeev Buium to eight-year, $75M extension

The Vancouver Canucks have signed 20-year-old defenseman Zeev Buium to a massive eight-year contract extension. The deal, worth a total of $75.04 million, features an annual cap hit of $9.38 million and is set to begin with the 2027-28 season.

Buium joined the Canucks as a key piece of the blockbuster trade that sent superstar defender Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. General Manager Ryan Johnson described Buium as a “proven winner” and noted that the long-term commitment is based on the player’s projected development over the next several years rather than just his current performance.

The extension serves as a cornerstone for the Canucks’ ongoing roster rebuild. Buium, who was the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, recorded 26 points in 76 games during the 2025-26 season split between Minnesota and Vancouver. The signing also provides a significant data point for other young players in the league, such as Detroit’s Simon Edvinsson, as contract negotiations continue across the NHL.