Brad Treliving, the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is well-known for his liking of big defensemen. One day before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, he went out and got another big man on, continuing his habit.
In exchange for the team’s sixth round pick in 2026, Ontario’s capital, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, acquired 6’7″ left-handed defenceman Cade Webber.
The Hurricanes selected the 23-year-old Webber in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL draft, two rounds after the Maple Leafs selected Nicholas Robertson.
During his draft year, Webber mostly participated in the US High School Prep league but also made seven appearances for the US National U18 squad.
The American-born defenseman was drafted and played a key role for the Penticton Vees of British Columbia’s Junior A league for one season before moving to Boston University, where he was paired with Mack Celebrini, the team’s projected first overall choice.
The Physical Defensive Beast that is Cade Webber
A few clips of plays that Webber has participated in for Boston University have been assembled by the @LeafsRealist Twitter account. In his own end, he appears to be a tough net front player who punishes players who try to set up in front of the goalie.
Webber will graduate from Boston University on August 15th, after which the Carolina Hurricanes would have had to sign him before he became an unrestricted free agent.
When Treliving said during his Friday media availability that they had hoped to get him signed once his college season was over and have him playing for the Marlies, fans would have to assume that the Maple Leafs management had had some sort of talks with Webber to get him signed once his NCAA season is over.
Webber finished his four years of college with a total of 17 points and one goal, although he is still regarded as a defense first player. Whether the team provides him time with Topi Niemelä, the organization’s best offensive defensive prospect and a year younger than the new arrival, will be interesting to watch.
