‘Confident’ Buium brings Canucks hope through transitional period

NEW YORK — There were no standing ovations for Zeev Buium in New Jersey on Sunday the way there were for Quinn Hughes in Minnesota.

But general manager Patrik Allvin was cheering in his head as he watched Buium collect a couple of points while looking National Hockey League-ready in his debut for the Vancouver Canucks.

The buzz back in Vancouver over the 20-year-old defenceman, the biggest piece back in the four-for-one blockbuster that sent Hughes to the Minnesota Wild, was also around the team here as it held an optional practice Monday ahead of Tuesday evening’s game against the New York Rangers.

“I talked to Adam Foote there this morning because I wanted to see his thoughts, and he was extremely impressed,” Allvin explained. “As a coach, you talk about the defensive side of it, and Adam didn’t realize how good he was defensively. Our job is obviously to develop the things he’s good at, but also to be a top defenceman in the league, you have to be able to defend.

“Before you called, I was just sitting here and had a coffee and was talking to Zeev, and he was talking about the big games he played at the World Juniors the last two years (for Team USA), and how fun it was to play, and the loud buildings, the pressure battling against Willander and Pettersson (Swedish Canucks, Tom and Elias) and how good they were.

“I think when you understand what it takes to win — and this game is about winning — and understand that at an early age, then you grow with confidence by your preparation. That’s what I’m seeing. I see a guy that has that swagger and the confidence because he knows how to win.”

Others notice it, too.

Winger Conor Garland told a delightful anecdote before the Canucks’ 2-1 victory in New Jersey about winning last spring’s world championships with Buium as a teammate, and how the precocious kid approached a few NHL veterans before the Americans’ semifinal game and told them: “I’ve never lost at anything. I have five gold medals. We’re going to win.’”

Garland described Buium as “Confident, in a good way.”

If not Buium’s confidence, then at least his energy is bound to influence new teammates that can use a lift after falling to 32nd in the NHL’s overall standings and seeing Hughes, their captain and friend, depart.

We understand veteran players are not going to declare unhappiness on the record if they’re reconsidering their loyalty to the Canucks in the wake of Hughes’ exit. But one of the strongest takeaways from the team over the weekend was the conviction with which some of Vancouver’s best and most-experienced players said they want to be part of whatever is coming next for the team as Allvin and Canucks president Jim Rutherford reposition it.

Garland, goalie Thatcher Demko, and veteran wingers Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser all stated unambiguously their desire to remain with the Canucks.

In his interview with Sportsnet on Monday, Allvin said he believes part of the veteran group’s buy-in is due to the strength of the pieces acquired in the Hughes trade.

Already a two-time 20-goal scorer who had 100 points over the last two seasons, 24-year-old Marco Rossi is a proven second-line centre (with upside) who should finally fill in some of the crater left from the trade of J.T. Miller to the Rangers 11 months ago.

Winger Liam Ohgren, 21, is a viable prospect who impressed his new teammates and coach with the speed and heaviness of his game on Sunday. And Buium, of course, has the skating and puck skills to become a star, although he has a long way to go to become something close to Hughes.

“I feel good,” Buium said of his game during a conversation Saturday with a couple of reporters. “I think there’s still a level that I’m not even close to getting to, and that’s exciting for me. Every game, every day, is an opportunity to get better. I’m just excited. I think it’s been just trending uphill from the playoffs last year to training camp this year, to the start of the season, first 10 games, then the next 10 games. It’s still very early into my career, and, you know, I’m just trying to do my best.

“I mean, I want to be me. Obviously, you know the kind of player (Hughes) is. He’s a superstar. He’s done so many great things: won the Norris, you know, top defenceman in the U.S., if not the best defenceman in the NHL. I’ve always liked to watch him and take things from him. But, yeah, I mean, I want to be me. I want to write my own story. I just want to become the best player I can be.”

No wonder the San Diegan has made such a favourable first impression on the Canucks.

“Hopefully this inspires the team here, and the veterans that signed long-term and believe in this team and organization and want to play here,” Allvin said of the trade. “I think it’s important for them to see that we’re getting NHL players, ready to play and impact the team right away.

“I also hope they trust in our relationship — myself and Adam with the players — and see what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to be aggressive and trying to make our team better. And I need them to lead and guide our young players every day in order to get better.”

Allvin said resolving the Hughes issue makes it easier for management to move forward on other things. Rutherford confirmed three weeks ago that the Canucks are taking offers on Kiefer Sherwood and other pending unrestricted free agents, although Allvin said Monday that there isn’t another trade imminent.

“It obviously affects the other decisions when you don’t know what the return is, how many contracts, how it affects the cap and all that stuff,” Allvin explained. “So (the trade) definitely helps. Again, if it makes sense for the organization for any kind of trade, we’re open to it. But I do believe in the veterans we have here, too.

“I understand it’s not a linear path to get where you want to be. But they can see the depth of the younger guys coming in.”

Notes

• Canuck centre Elias Pettersson partially participated in Monday’s optional skate, but is expected to miss the Rangers game, his fifth since sustaining an undisclosed injury. Allvin said he expects Pettersson to return to the lineup during this five-game trip, and that having Rossi playing behind him should ease Pettersson’s workload and put him in more offensive situations.

“I’m sure it’s going to help him, absolutely,” he said of adding Rossi. “Now everybody is going to get slotted in (the lineup) more in the right position. I mean, it’s not fair for (Aatu) Raty or (Max) Sasson or David Kampf to play top minutes against the best players from the other teams and then expect them to produce offensively as well. So getting Marco Rossi allows everyone to get slotted in properly when Elias comes back.”

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