ST. PAUL, Minn — Cade Webber was among the many devastated Boston University players Thursday night. He pulled his No. 8 sweater over his head in a somber dressing room following the Terriers’ overtime loss in the Frozen Four semifinals.
But the next step awaits Webber, 23, with the senior defenseman telling The Athletic he plans to sign his entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and join the team Sunday in Toronto. The hope, Webber said, is for him to join Toronto on their upcoming road trip to Florida, which begins Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.
“It happened a little quicker than I wanted to,” Webber said. “But I’m excited. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get everything figured out in the next couple days. BU prepared me for this step. I’m confident.”
Webber is a 6-foot-7, 216-pound shutdown defender, ranked among the NCAA’s leader in blocked shots each of the last two seasons. The Leafs acquired his rights from Carolina at the trade deadline for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
“It’s a big hockey market, I’m just going to try to soak in as much as I can,” Webber said. “A lot of big-time players. I’ll do whatever I can to make the guys better and put my best foot forward. As a young guy, I’m just going to just pick up as much as I can.”
GO DEEPER
Towering new Maple Leafs prospect Cade Webber may be on fast track to NHL
Terriers coach Jay Pandolfo has seen an evolution with Webber over the last couple of years. He’s really bought into his role of being a tough, defensive defenseman, a strong penalty killer.
“He’s taken huge steps over the last two years,” Pandolfo said Friday. “It’s everything. His confidence too. That’s a big part. He’s really accepting his role. He knew he’s going to get tough minutes. He’s going to kill penalties. That was his role and he embraced it. When you know who you are as a player; he doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He plays to that identity.”
It remains to be seen how Webber will fit in with the Leafs, who are a week and a half away from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There’s a lot to be done first, including making the signing official, getting acclimated with the team. But Webber feels he’s ready.
“Last year, I thought I had a good year,” he said. “I just didn’t think I totally dominated defensively — that’s the kind of player I am. That summer I was putting on weight, being more physical, closing plays quicker. Just being confident. I think that’s why I’m ready to take the next step. I’m closing plays quicker, being stronger, being hard to play against.”
Webber isn’t going to be an offensive playmaker — he had zero goals and six assists in 38 games this season, while earning a plus-15. He had 30 penalty minutes. But Pandolfo, who won the Stanley Cup twice and played for 15 NHL seasons, believes Webber can make an impact on where it matters the most this time of year.
“His size, his skating ability for a guy that’s 6-7, that can close time and space,” Pandolfo said of Webber’s strengths. “He’s excellent at anticipating. He’s got a good stick. He’s obviously willing to block shots. He’s certainly going to be a defense-first guy, a shutdown defender, an excellent penalty killer. Teams need that, especially in playoff-type scenarios. You need those guys you can rely on at the end of games to get the job done. That’s how he is.”
As for whether Webber is ready to step in right away, Pandolfo said, “I think so. Until you get there, you don’t know. He’ll have to compete. But I know (the Leafs) like him. He’ll have a good opportunity.”
(Photo: Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images)
