The Vancouver Canucks will have a long list of tasks this summer after what has been a disastrous season. And one of the things on top of their list is getting one of their young, promising defencemen signed to an extension.

According to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal, one of the topics at the top of their list will be locking up defenceman Zeev Buium.

“Okay, I want to say this. One of the things on the Canucks to-do list this summer will be getting an extension done with Zeev Buium. I see a lot of people thinking 8x8M A couple things to keep in mind: the market’s gone up, the salary cap has gone up, this kid’s got high, high upside. Character through the roof.

“Two contracts I want you to keep in mind. The market has changed. It changed when Luke Hughes got nine million per year. It changed when Jackson LaCombe got nine million per year. Both guys under 25. If it’s an eight-year deal, I can see it being $9M+ for Buium because of the market growth. Because this kid’s won a lot, he’s a winner. The market is shifting for young defencemen, stud defencemen like Buium.”

It’s important to note that this offseason is the final year in which NHL teams will be allowed to sign players to an eight-year extension. Under the new CBA, which kicks in on September 15, the max term allowed on an extension will switch to seven years, while the free agent signings are maxed at six years.

Buium, 20, was acquired by the Canucks on December 12 from the Minnesota Wild. The former 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft has collected five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 63 games throughout his rookie campaign. Since joining the Canucks, Buium has two goals and six assists for eight points in 32 games.

The San Diego, California native is eligible for an extension after burning a year on his deal once he joined the Wild in the playoffs last season, where he picked up an assist in four postseason outings.