New 6-foot-7 Leafs defenseman displaying his skills at training camp

The Leafs did make a couple of real solid moves this offseason to improve their defensive depth, signing veterans Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Of course, there's that one wild card, the rookie defender in Cade Webber, who might just surprise everybody by making this roster.

Teams can never have enough defensive talent, and the Leafs might quietly have done one of the more under-the-radar moves when acquiring Cade Webber's rights. He was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes back in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He never did sign with the Canes, meaning the Leafs took advantage of the situation and swooped in with a trade for his rights.

At the time, this move didn't appear to create much excitement. But when digging into the specifics, one sees that Cade Webber has some serious upside. Measuring at a staggering 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, he is an absolute beast on the blue line. The Leafs certainly seem to be focusing on size in their offseason roster additions, and the physicality of Webber could prove to be a difference-maker. His big frame and physical style simply fit naturally within the team's defensive depth.

One of the reasons this potential Cade Webber roster spot is one to watch is because Jani Hakanpaa, another big-bodied 6-foot-7 defenseman who the Leafs recently signed, seems unlikely to remain consistently healthy. The Leafs had been eyeing Hakanpaa as a possibility for a bottom-pairing role, but with that injury concern constantly lingering, Webber could be the man to step in and fill that void, when needed.

While it is expected that Cade Webber will start the year with the Toronto Marlies now that Jani Hakanpaa has signed, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to anyone to see him don a Leafs jersey at some point this season. With a good showing in camp, he could easily find himself becoming one of the last cuts, or even end up on the opening night roster if he absolutely wows his coaches.

With possible injuries on the team, he may well be a staple feature on the Leafs' blue line in no time. His size, skill, and need of the Leafs for a physically intimidating defenseman make him an unsung but rather valued asset in the making to the team. Keep an eye out for this kid, he might just force his way into the lineup a lot sooner than anyone thinks.

Cade Webber played for Boston University last season in the NCAA. He managed to get into 38 games and scored no goals, but managed six assists. He had an extremely solid plus/minus of +15, which truly proves how reliable he is in his own zone.

Source:
Lance Hornby on X