Cade Webber is a curious case for the Leafs, as the 23-year-old left-shot defenceman was acquired at the 2023–24 trade deadline. A tall (6’7″) defensive defenceman, Webber was an alternate captain for a stacked Boston University team last season, ready to begin his rookie season as a professional. As our 9th-ranked Leafs prospect, let’s take a closer look at what Webber brings to the ice and how soon he might make an impact at the NHL level.
Strengths/weaknesses
The size is one thing, but Webber is able to leverage this into a capable defensive game. Although Webber is not the most physically punishing defender, he is smart. Webber is able to read plays, using his long limbs and a longer reach to break up passes and block shots. Big, defensive defencemen are back en vogue league-wide, and Leafs GM Brad Treliving is in tow.
On top of this, Webber is a fairly strong skater, something that coaches have emphasized since his draft year. Combined with his defensive tools, Webber’s skating gives him a really high floor as a prospect. The fact that Webber has embraced a team-focused, defence-first mentality only furthers this narrative. Serving as a captain is a big deal for Webber’s resume.
Just as the positives of Webber’s game are obvious, so too are his flaws. Webber will not be an offensive contributor. His skating should help him out of trouble to an extent, but Webber will mostly be looking to make short passes, even bumps up or down the boards to get the puck to a more skilled teammate.
Production
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | U.S. National Under-18 Team | Exhibition | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 23 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 2020–21 | Boston University | H-East | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | Boston University | H-East | 31 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022–23 | Boston University | H-East | 40 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2023–24 | Boston University | H-East | 38 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
As noted, there is not much offence to speak of. Webber scored a single goal across his four years at Boston University. Needless to say, Webber will not be scoring his way into the NHL, but further still it shows that these types of stats should not be a factor in Webber’s abilities or progress.
Tangentially, this development path from BCHL to the NCAA will become more common, if it has not already. For example, we might expect to see a similar development path ahead of recent Leafs draftee, Matt Lahey.
Next steps
Webber may or may not be developed physically enough to compete at the NHL level, in terms of strength and skating. Still, it should be expected that more seasoning on the mental side is in order to make the jump to the professional ranks. Webber will get some looks in training camp and through the preseason, perhaps even alongside more established defence partners.
There are always lineup surprises on opening night, and many more to come in the months beyond, but the plan will be to give Webber time to grow in the AHL. It would be a good sign if Webber were to hold his own as an AHL regular, even better to see him earn significant time on the penalty kill. There will be hurdles here, as fellow 23 year old left-shot defenceman Mikko Kokkonen already has 112 games of AHL experience.
It is hard to know where Webber will start on the initial depth chart, but the patience that has defined his journey as a prospect should be held to. If Webber is able to establish himself as a high-end penalty killer over the next two seasons he should have all the foundations for a look in the NHL. If only as a situational third pairing defenceman, deployed with a partner who can handle puck moving duties, Webber has a path to becoming a valuable piece of an NHL team.
Projection
24–25: Capable AHL rookie
25–26: Integral AHL defenceman, late season call up option
26–27: Battling for a spot in training camp
