:  Jared Spurgeon


All Zeev Buium did in his draft year was set an all-time scoring record for first-time draft-eligible defencemen, win a national championship, and take home World Juniors gold. Whether that offence will come remains an open question. He's an enthusiastic offensive activator, skilled as a distributor, with flashes of manipulative ability, so it's certainly possible. We've no such concerns about his ability to keep the opposition in check or move the puck. Buium may have been the best shutdown defenceman in last year's draft. (EliteProspects, 2024)