University of Denver Professional Athletes

For Carter Mazur, patience has never been optional. Four years into his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings organization, the University of Denver product enters the 2026 preseason with something he hasn't always had: a clean bill of health and a genuine shot at opening-night roster inclusion.

Injuries previously derailed Mazur's path to the NHL, but that story is being rewritten in Detroit's training camp. According to Sports Illustrated, Mazur enters this preseason with a real opportunity to force the Red Wings' hand — and by all accounts, he's approaching the moment with the urgency the situation demands.

The Competition Is Real

Mazur isn't walking into a vacancy. The Red Wings have trimmed their preseason roster to 28 players, and the logjam at the forward positions is legitimate. Per Heavy Sports, prospects including Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Nate Danielson, Anton Johansson, Carter Bear, and William Wallinder are all pushing for limited roster spots — and so is Mazur. Not all of them will make it.

Sports Illustrated described Mazur as someone who refuses to get comfortable, noting that he understands the sustained urgency required to carve out a long-term role in the organization. That mentality, forged during his time with the Pioneers and tested through injury-shortened seasons, may be his most important asset heading into opening night.

He's not the only Denver alum in the Detroit system, either. Defensemen Josiah Didier and Ian Mitchell are also part of the Red Wings organization, giving DU a notable footprint in Hockeytown.

Other Pioneers Making Noise

Elsewhere around the league, Denver alumni were active in the final stretch of the preseason.

Zeev Buium, the Canucks' promising blueliner, earned an assist on Vancouver's power-play unit during the preseason — a feed to Linus Karlsson that resulted in Karlsson's first goal of the exhibition slate. The play illustrated why the former Pioneer has drawn attention as a puck-mover at the next level.

In Pittsburgh, Tristan Broz suited up for the Penguins in their final preseason tune-up against Buffalo, appearing on a forward roster that included the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Keeping his name in that conversation as Pittsburgh finalizes its roster decisions is exactly where Broz needs to be.

The Bottom Line

The University of Denver has long been one of college hockey's most reliable NHL pipelines, and the 2026 preseason is another reminder of why. From Mazur chasing a roster spot in Detroit to Buium running a power play in Vancouver, Pioneers are spread across the league doing what DU players tend to do: competing for real jobs at the highest level.

For Mazur specifically, this week may define the next chapter of his professional career. The Red Wings have prospects to spare — but a hungry, healthy wing with Mazur's compete level is exactly the kind of player that earns a seat at the table.

Two University of Denver alumni are generating buzz as the NHL preseason gets underway — for very different reasons.

Zeev Buium Signs Big in Vancouver

The Canucks aren't hiding their belief in Zeev Buium. Vancouver signed the prized defensive prospect to a significant contract this offseason, a clear signal that the organization views the Denver product as a cornerstone of its blue line future.

That said, the Canucks are being deliberate about how they bring him along. Despite the hefty investment, Vancouver is preaching patience with Buium's development as he enters his sophomore season — a measured approach that suggests the club is more interested in getting his game right than rushing him into a starring role. For a franchise that has made recent playoff pushes, the long-term calculus here is notable: they're betting big on Buium while resisting the temptation to accelerate his timeline.

For Pioneers fans, Buium's ascent has been one of the more satisfying alumni storylines to track. His transition from Denver's blue line to the NHL stage has drawn attention league-wide, and the new contract cements his status as one of the more closely watched young defensemen in the Western Conference.

Zucker Sidelined With Hernia Surgery

On the other side of the ledger, Jason Zucker is dealing with a frustrating start to his Sabres tenure. The veteran forward is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia — a setback that clouds what was already a pivotal year for the 34-year-old.

Zucker, a left wing with over 600 NHL games on his résumé, signed with Buffalo looking to contribute to a young, rebuilding squad with legitimate upside. An injury-forced absence before the season even tips off isn't the start anyone envisioned. The Sabres haven't placed a firm timetable on his return, but the expectation that he'll miss opening night is confirmed.

For Buffalo, losing Zucker early — even temporarily — is a minor blow to forward depth as the team continues building around its core. For the Pioneers alumni community, it's a reminder that the margins in pro hockey are razor-thin, and staying healthy is the prerequisite for everything else.

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Denver's NHL footprint remains one of the most expansive in college hockey, with more than 20 active alumni across the league. This preseason, Buium and Zucker are the names making the loudest noise — one ascending, one briefly interrupted. Both bear watching when the real games begin.