Forecasting National Hockey League salaries is a tricky business. Context is everything, but with a hard salary cap, the job of a general manager is certainly a challenge. The Vancouver Canucks received Zeev Buium as arguably the biggest return piece in the Quinn Hughes trade. The Canucks were never going to win that trade outright, but as time passes and Buium reaches for his full potential, it could end up closer than we thought.
Buium has only played 76 NHL games, and with more than half of them on last season's horrible Canucks roster. Sample size and teammates aside, the term and price tag on his eight year, $9.38 million-per-season deal would still have raised eyebrows prior to this offseason. But the big money deals have rolled in since July 1st, and a salary in the single digits, for a player the Canucks obviously view as a piece of their now and future core, looks affordable next to some other recent signings.
Eight year deal worth it
From Buium's point of view, the opportunity to sign an eight year deal surely weighed in his decision. After this summer, that term is unavailable to any player, and the thought of potentially missing out on an extra season of financial surety must have influenced him. Buium has to grow as a player to earn the deal though.
His World Junior and NCAA tournament showings indicate that he can play and produce with other talented players. But his performance in a Minnesota Wild jersey wasn't enough to make him an untouchable, providing some offense but finishing -9 over 31 games. As noted, the Canucks underwhelmed as a franchise in 2025-26, but Buium is going to be expected to be a part of the change there if the team is going to improve. It's a lot to ask of a 20 year old player, but this contract represents a commitment from both sides.
Without question, contract signings like this one should make Edmonton Oilers fans feel good about Evan Bouchard's $10.5 million deal. While the Canucks are hanging their hopes on a young player becoming a superstar, Bouchard's huge point total of 95 last season shows he's already there. At barely half the price of Cale Makar, Bouchard looks incredibly affordable for the moment. If Buium does take a big step forward, Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson is going to look like a genius. If not, then there are good odds to suggest that Buium will be a Canuck long after Johnson gets his walking papers.
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