The Minnesota Wild had a player they wanted and they made sure they got him.
The Wild selected high-scoring defenceman Zeev Buium 12th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft after trading up one spot to do it.
The Wild traded pick No. 13 and a 2025 third-round pick to the Flyers to move up and select Buium.
Buium was No. 4 on Sportsnet scout Jason Bukala’s prospect list entering the draft. As a freshman at the University of Denver, Buium led all NCAA defencemen in scoring with 50 points on route to a national championship.
“Buium’s an excellent skater,” Bukala wrote in his scouting report. “He’s aggressive offensively and defensively. Buium never backs down physically in addition to providing offence.”
With pick No. 13, the Flyers brought out legendary announcer Michael Buffer to make the announcement. The Flyers selected centre Jett Luchanko of the OHL’s Guelph Storm.
Luchanko had 20 goals and 74 points in 68 games last season.