Luke Schenn is back in a familiar spot at Vancouver Canucks training camp, and this time the veteran defenceman is lining up beside another young blue-liner with big upside.
Under new head coach Manny Malhotra, Schenn opened camp paired with 20-year-old Zeev Buium, a setup that carries echoes of Schenn’s 2021-22 run with Quinn Hughes. Back then, Schenn took on the heavy defensive work so Hughes could push the offence and grow into the player he is today. Now, at 36, Schenn sees a similar job ahead of him with Buium.
He said he understands the value of the veteran presence because he had it himself early in his career.
“I guess when I was a young guy, I had a great mentor and guys who I played with,” Schenn remembered. “Dating myself here, but I played with Tomas Kaberle for a few years, and then Kimmo Timonen in Philly, and I just remember how they treated me, and their wisdom and veteran presence, and how they rubbed off on me. Now it kind of feels like roles reverse, where you get to maybe mentor someone else, and as much as you feel like you’re maybe mentoring someone, I feel like I’m the lucky guy who gets to play with these young guys who are up and coming.
“We all know how good a defenceman Quinn was and has become in this league, and how special he is, and you know, you don’t want to compare anyone, but obviously Zeev has an incredible skill set and toolbox himself too. Watching him from a distance when he first broke into the Wild, and how he kind of stepped in and ran that power play in the playoffs, and then watching him a little bit last year and following the trade a little bit, you can just tell how bright his upside was.
I got a couple buddies who were in Minnesota and told me what a great young guy he was, and just how he understands the locker room and gets what it’s like to be a pro, and he puts in the work and has just a ton of confidence. He’s kind of proven at every level, and he’s going to make great strides here in the NHL; we’re relying on him big time.
“I just feel fortunate to get to play with him. And as much as maybe he’s leaning on me, I think it’s a partnership, and I can lean on him.”
Buium is already feeling the benefits of that arrangement. Even with camp only just getting underway, he said Schenn has been helping him in plenty of ways, especially on the defensive side.
“I mean, a lot,” Buium replied when asked what type of lessons he can learn from the veteran Schenn. “I mean, I think he’s been a guy who’s literally been in every possible situation as a player and been able to learn a lot from him off the ice, and he’s kind of taken me under his wing a little bit.
So that’s been pretty awesome. Just to be out there with him, I think it’s just the little things that he notices, you know, especially defensively.
Offensively, this is the first time we played together, so obviously didn’t do too much O-zone today, but just trying to grow chemistry together. I think defensively, even out there today, he was a huge help for me, just having that presence, and he kills plays so well and just those veteran things that, you know, I’m trying to get better at every day.”
Whether Malhotra keeps the pair together for opening night will be decided later, with preseason still to come. The Canucks’ investment in Buium is already clear, though, after signing him to an eight-year, $75.04 million extension. If Schenn’s track record with Hughes is any guide, Vancouver is hoping this partnership helps Buium reach the top of his ceiling.
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