Carolina Hurricanes 2019 Draft Update: Part 2

D Cade Webber (4th round, 99th overall)

When you watch a player, there’s always usually a certain aspect of their game that just jumps out at you. Maybe their puck skills, maybe their skating ability. For Cade Webber, you just notice it right away. The man is a mammoth on skates – a 19-year old kid who stands a towering 6’7, 210lbs.

I have a feeling that Webber will soon really establish himself as a fan favourite prospect, because I mean who isn’t intrigued by a defenseman who’s that large? Even if his progression stagnates, he’s a guy that people will hold out hope for just because of his size.

Webber, who was drafted out of prep school, is understandably extremely raw as a prospect. It doesn’t help him that after just 23 games with Penticton of the BCHL, he suffered a season-ending injury. He had 2 goals and 5 points in those 23 games, but he’s thought of as more of a stay-at-home defensive presence.

Webber is regarded as a pretty good skater for his size, and has raw physical tools that could make him a force at the pro level. Scouts however, seem rather cautious about him.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic offered the following on Webber:

"“Webber has elite athletic tools at 6-foot-7 with good skating ability, but he has little offense in his game. His puck playing ability is limited to basic passes, and he struggles when he goes beyond that.”"

His head coach in school, Peter Masters, believes that if Webber adds some muscle, he has a real shot in the pros:

"“Cade is a big-time prospect because he has a great stride and light feet for someone his size,” Masters said. “He is smart with the puck and if he fills out over his time at BU like I think he will he will be a big time, shutdown defenseman in the NHL.”"

Webber is committed to play at Boston University next season, but that’s all assuming on how his recovery goes. If he does make it to BU, he would play alongside Domenick Fensore – which would make an extremely fun pairing  (Webber is literally a foot taller than Fensore!).

In terms of NHL future with Webber, I really have no idea. I’ve only seen him play once, and while he was rather impressive, he has yet to play against real quality competition and is very, very raw in his developmental stages.

Assuming he continues on at Boston University, he’ll likely need all 4 years of his eligibility to continue progressing. At that point the team will have a clear view on what he can amount to in the NHL, if at all. That said, he’s a long-term project and a long, long ways down the road. At best, a half-decade.

Estimated NHL arrival: 5+ years