Should the Canucks Sign Zeev Buium Early Because of Offer Sheets?
One of the biggest storylines around the NHL these days is the growing fear of offer sheets. After a few high-profile cases, it feels like every fan base is wondering whether its young stars need to be signed early before another team swoops in with a massive contract. Ironically, that really isn't the issue with Zeev Buium.
Why Buium’s RFA Situation Is Different.
Because Buium's first taste of the NHL came in the form of four playoff games with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25, he didn't reach the 10-game threshold needed for that season to count as a full professional season. That means when his entry-level contract expires after the 2026-27 season, he'll become a restricted free agent but won’t be eligible to sign an offer sheet. Under the NHL's rules, he'll be what's known as a 10.2(c) restricted free agent, meaning the Canucks control his rights without having to worry about another club making a run at him.
So if offer sheets aren't the concern, should Vancouver still think about getting a long-term extension done early? I think the answer is yes. The bigger question is whether Vancouver can get ahead of a market that continues to rise.
Related: Teddy Blueger’s Reflection—and the Canucks’ Reality.
Buium is a player the Canucks will want to keep for the long term.
The reason has less to do with Buium himself than with what's happening across the league. Every summer, the market for young players seems to climb a little higher. One defenceman signs a big extension, another receives an offer sheet, and suddenly everyone with similar numbers points to those contracts as the new standard. Comparables have always driven negotiations, but those comparable contracts are becoming more expensive at an incredible pace.
That's where acting early could pay off for the Canucks. If they can lock Buium into an eight-year contract before those comparable salaries jump again, there's a good chance that deal will look like a bargain a few years down the road. Wait another season or two, and the same player could easily cost several million dollars more per year simply because the marketplace has moved.
The Canucks have a couple of players they will likely want to hold on to.
And Buium won't be the only young player Vancouver has to think about. Tom Willander is expected to reach restricted free agency in 2028, while Caleb Malhotra could follow not long after, depending on when his entry-level contract officially begins. If those players continue developing, they'll be negotiating in what could be an even richer market.
The Canucks don't need to rush because they're afraid of losing Buium to an offer sheet. They should consider moving early because every indication suggests tomorrow's contracts will cost much more than today's. Sometimes the smartest move isn't protecting a player from another team. It's protecting yourself from an exploding market.