LAS VEGAS, Nev. – University of Denver hockey defenseman
Zeev Buium is set to be just the program's fifth first-round NHL Draft pick this weekend and is among the Pioneers that are eligible to be chosen in the league's annual selection.
The 2024 NHL Draft begins Friday night with Round 1 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, before Rounds 2-7 conclude this year's event on Saturday.
Buium is rated as the top American player and No. 4 among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for this year's draft.
Henrik Borgstrom at No. 23 by Florida in 2016 was DU's last first-round draft pick, while
Craig Redmond at No. 6 with Los Angeles in 1984 is the highest-drafted player in program history.
Joe Colborne (No. 16, Boston, 2008) and
Beau Bennett (No. 20, Pittsburgh, 2010) are Denver's other two Round 1 selections in school history.
Among the players from DU's 2024 championship team that are also eligible for the draft are now sophomores
Cale Ashcroft, who is in his last year of eligibility, and
Alex Weiermair, who is entering his second draft year.
Denver's five incoming freshmen are also available to be picked in the draft.
Hagen Burrows, James Reeder and
Tory Pitner are in their first year of eligibility,
Jake Fisher is in his second and
Alec Whipple is in his last. Several future players that have committed to DU could also be selected this weekend.
The Pioneers have had 131 players selected all-time in the NHL Draft, and they have had at least one current or future player drafted in each of the last 22 years since 2002. In 2023,
Sam Harris was selected at No. 133 by Montreal while incoming transfer
Eric Pohlkamp was picked at No. 132 by San Jose.
The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN on Friday at 5 p.m. MT. Rounds 2-7 will take place on Saturday morning starting at 9:30 a.m. MT and will be televised on NHL Network. Both days of the draft will also be nationally televised in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
Denver First Round Draft Pick History
Craig Redmond, 1984 - #6 (LAK)
Joe Colborne, 2008 - #16 (BOS)
Beau Bennett, 2010 - #20 (PIT)
Henrik Borgstrom, 2016 - #23 (FLA)
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