Buium Just Gave the Canucks Something They Really Needed

There’s something bigger going on with Zeev Buium’s decision to sign an eight-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks than the number on the cheque. The $9.38 million annual salary is obviously the headline. So is the fact that Buium is only 20 years old and has played just 76 regular-season NHL games. The Canucks are making a huge bet on what he is going to become, rather than simply paying him for what he has already accomplished.

But perhaps the more interesting part is that Buium apparently didn’t need much convincing. When asked about the length of the contract, Buium said he personally wanted to be in Vancouver for the full eight years. He talked about loving the city, the fan base and where the organization is headed. He also made it pretty clear that he wants to win a Stanley Cup in Vancouver.

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Why What Buium Said Matters to the Canucks.

For years, Vancouver has had to sell players on the idea that the organization is headed somewhere. Sometimes that has meant selling hope. Sometimes it has meant asking players to believe in a rebuild that hadn't quite figured out what it wanted to be. Buium is different. He is one of the players the Canucks are asking everyone else to believe in.

That changes the conversation. The Quinn Hughes trade was obviously a massive moment for Vancouver. Losing a franchise defenseman was painful, but Buium was one of the major pieces coming back. Now the Canucks have essentially taken that gamble one step further. They aren't just hoping Buium becomes the next cornerstone. They have convinced him that he wants to spend his prime years helping build the thing.

Buium’s Love for Vancouver Is More Valuable Than It Seems.

Young players don't necessarily want to sign long contracts in places simply because the money is good. They want to believe they're joining something. Buium's comments suggest he sees Vancouver as a place where he can grow, lead and eventually win. That's a pretty significant endorsement of Ryan Johnson's rebuilding plan.

It also puts some pressure on the Canucks. If Buium is committing eight years, Vancouver has to give him a team worth committing to. This can't simply be about developing one excellent defenseman. The organization now has to build around him and the rest of its young core intelligently.

Because Buium has just given the Canucks something every rebuilding team wants: a young star who doesn't appear to be looking for the exit. Now they have to give him a reason to stay excited about what comes next.

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