Vancouver’s offseason conversation has already found one of its biggest talking points in Zeev Buium. The Canucks defenseman is heading into a contract year, and after a promising start to his NHL career, the next step could be a major payday if he delivers the kind of season the team believes is coming.
Buium’s first year with Vancouver was split by circumstance. He was sent to the Canucks in the Quinn Hughes trade in December 2025 and finished with 26 points in 76 games.
Before that, he had put up three goals and 12 points in 45 games. Now, with a full season ahead and no split focus, the expectation is that 2026-27 can be his breakout year.
That matters because Buium is not just playing for production. He is also playing toward his next contract.
He is in the final season of his three-year, $2.90 million entry-level deal, a contract that pays him $966,667 per season. After this year, he will be a restricted free agent at 21 years old.
AFP Analytics has already sketched out two possible paths for his next deal. One is a three-year contract worth $15.563 million, which would carry a $5.187 million annual hit. The other is a seven-year extension at $67.558 million, or $9.651 million per season.
The long-term option is the one that stands out, especially if Buium takes another step forward. His average time on ice jumped to 20:21, and the belief is that he could once again open 2026-27 on the first defensive pair with Filip Hronek. That kind of usage would put him right on the track toward becoming the Canucks’ top defenseman.
Buium’s rise has already been enough to make him one of three under-25 players to watch for Vancouver this season. The San Diego, CA native showed plenty of promise even after changing teams in the middle of the year, and now the stage is set for a true full-season test.
The Canucks know the money is coming. The real question is whether Ryan Johnson and the front office decide to lock him in for the long haul now, or let the season play out first. Either way, Buium looks like a player who could turn a career year into a major extension, and Vancouver has every reason to want that deal done before long.
In Other News...
Canadiens Trade Debate Just Got More Interesting Up Front
The Canucks rebuild has already put plenty of names into circulation, and Jake DeBrusk is now part of that conversation as Montreal continues to search for more finishing touch up front. DeBrusks recent play and contract situation have made him an easy player to connect to the Canadiens, especially with a roster that could use another proven winger who can slide into a top-six role and help drive offense.
For Vancouver, the appeal is obvious in a different way. If the front office is looking to reshape the roster around younger pieces and future flexibility, DeBrusk becomes the sort of player who can draw interest from a team trying to climb faster. The fit makes sense on paper, but for now it remains just that, with no trade or confirmation on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Are Finally Choosing A Direction Fans Have Been Begging For
After years of searching for the right mix, the Canucks have finally started leaning into a direction that looks built for more than a quick fix. Ryan Johnson stepping in as general manager and Manny Malhotra taking over behind the bench signals a clean shift in tone, with the organization now emphasizing a longer rebuild, future assets and a stronger push to develop younger talent like prospect Caleb Malhotra.
That approach also comes with the part fans usually ask for until it arrives: patience. Vancouver is prepared for some difficult decisions on veteran players and their roles in what comes next, including moving names such as Marcus Pettersson as part of the reset, and the team has acknowledged there may be losing seasons along the way before the plan starts paying off. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Face A Rebuild Dilemma As Free Agency Stays Quiet
The Canucks have kept their summer activity fairly quiet, adding three NHL players along with some AHL depth while continuing to lean into a rebuild that emphasizes flexibility and future assets. For a team trying to balance immediate respectability with longer-term planning, the approach has been cautious rather than aggressive, and it leaves Vancouver with a roster picture that is still taking shape heading toward training camp.
Several pending unrestricted free agents remain in the mix, giving the Canucks another layer of decision-making as they weigh whether to keep stockpiling tradeable pieces or add more help before camp opens. The current depth chart suggests there is room to do more, but it is unclear how much more management wants to commit before the season begins, especially with the trade deadline looming as a possible pivot point for veteran movement. [Read more 🡒]