ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Thursday night, Cade Weber was one of many Boston College players devastated. After the Terriers lost in overtime in the semifinals of Frozen 4, he pulled his No. 8 sweater over his head in a dimly lit locker room.
But the 23-year-old Webber has the next step ahead, the senior defenseman said. The Athletic He signed an entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is scheduled to join the team in Toronto on Sunday. Webber’s hope is to join Toronto on a road trip to Florida, starting with Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers.
“It happened a little faster than I wanted it to happen,” Weber said. “But I’m excited. It’s going to take a lot of effort to sort everything out in the next few days. BU has prepared me for this step. I’m confident.”
Webber is a 6-foot-7, 216-pound shutdown defender who has ranked among the top in the NCAA in blocked shots over the past two seasons. The Leafs acquired the rights to a 2026 sixth-round pick from Carolina at the trade deadline.
“This is a big hockey market, and I’m going to try to soak it up as much as I can,” Weber said. “We have a lot of big-time players. I’m going to do whatever I can to make the players better and do my best. As a young guy, I’m going to pick up as much as I can.”
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Maple Leafs’ new prospect Cade Weber may be on the fast track to the NHL
Terriers coach Jay Pandolfo has watched Weber evolve over the past few years. He really likes his role as a tough, defensive defenseman and strong penalty killer.
“He’s taken a big step forward in the last two years,” Pandolfo said Friday. “That’s everything. His confidence too. That’s a big part. He’s really embraced his role. He knew it was going to be a tough time. He’s going to kill penalties. That’s it. It’s his role and he’s accepted it. When you get to know who you are as a player. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He plays with that identity.”
It remains to be seen how Weber will fit with the Leafs, who are a week and a half away from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There’s a lot to do first, including formalizing the contract and getting used to the team. But Webber feels ready.
“I thought last year was a good year,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be completely dominant defensively. That’s the type of player I am. That summer, I gained weight, became more physical, started finishing plays faster. But I just have confidence. I think that’s why I’m ready to take the next step. I’m finishing plays faster, I’m stronger, I’m harder to play against.”
Webber isn’t going to be an offensive playmaker. He played in 38 games this season with zero goals and six assists, earning him a plus-15 rating. He had 30 minutes of penalty time. But Pandolfo, who won two Stanley Cups and played 15 seasons in the NHL, believes Weber can make an impact when it matters most during this time.
“His size, his skating ability for a 6-7 year old, he can block time and space,” Pandolfo said of Webber’s strengths. he has a good stick. He’s obviously going to block the shot. He’s definitely going to be a defense-first guy, a shutdown defender, a good penalty killer. Teams need that, especially in playoff type scenarios. To get the job done, you need players you can rely on at the end of the game. That’s him. ”
As for whether Webber is ready to step in right away, Pandolfo said: We won’t know until we get there. he will have to compete. But I know (the Leafs) like him. He’ll have a good chance. ”
(Photo: Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)
