The Detroit Red Wings added Shai Buium to their stable of young defensemen, signing him to a three-year deal that will start next season.
The Grand Rapids Griffins announced they signed Buium to an amateur tryout offer (ATO) that will allow him to play with the team this week. The Griffins play Wednesday and Friday against the Iowa Wild, and Sunday against the Milwaukee Admirals.
Buium (drafted 36th overall in 2021) recently helped Denver win its second NCAA championship in the last three seasons. Buium assisted on one of the goals in a 2-0 win against Boston College in the title game in Minnesota. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound San Diego native posted seven goals and 36 points in 43 goals this season.
At Grand Rapids, Buium (pronounced shy BOO-yuhm) will rejoin former Denver teammates Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto. They played with him on the Denver team that won the NCAA title in 2021.
The Griffins team is loaded with Detroit prospects on defense, including Albert Johansson, Tuomisto, William Wallinder, Eemil Viro and Wyatt Newpower. It’s possible the Red Wings will send Simon Edvinsson back to Grand Rapids.
By all accounts, Buium improved significantly in his junior season at Denver. He played impressively well for Denver down the stretch and in the NCAA tournament. He skates well for a bigger defenseman. The presumption is Buium will spend next season in Grand Rapids. With his improvement this season, Buium is probably on Detroit’s list of top 10 prospects.
His brother, Zeev, will be picked in the first round of the NHL draft in June. Zeev Buium is also a defenseman.
More must-reads: