Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Defensive Prospect to ELC
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed to Boston University players into the organization after signing Cade Webber to an ELC, while Sam Stevens signed an AHL deal with the Marlies.
Thursday afternoon the news finally came out that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston University defenseman Cade Webber had come to an agreement on an entry level contract.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the 6'7", 210 lbs defenseman at this past trade deadline from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2026 sixth round pick.
Webber was previously a fourth round selection by the Hurricanes from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and he was finishing his fourth season with Terriers. The Canes had until August 15 to sign the Weston, Massachusetts native or he would become a free agent.
If you are looking for offence from the backend, Webber won't bring that to the team. He is a pure stay at home defenseman that played well off of Montreal Canadiens defensive prospect Lane Hutson.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Defensive Prospect to ELC
Through his four years with Boston University, Webber collected a grand total of one goal in 123 games. Webber was recognized for his play in his own end by winning the Hockey East NCAA Top Defensive Defenseman of the year this past season.
The contract is a two-year entry level contract that would carry a salary cap hit of $875,000 in the NHL, which comes with an $87,500 signing bonus and a salary of $70,000 a year with the Marlies. A pairing of with Topi Niemelä and Webber could be fund to watch.
This isn't the first time the Maple Leafs have used a draft pick to acquire an NCAA player that was drafted by another team, but unlikely to sign. In 2015, the team acquired Zach Hyman who was drafted by the Panthers, but was not going to sign with Florida so the Maple Leafs scooped him up.
While it is likely that Webber will join the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the season, nothing has been confirmed as of yet. However, whether he joins this week or in the fall he will have some familiarity as Thursday evening the Marlies announced that they had signed Webber's Boston University teammate Sam Stevens to a one-year AHL deal that starts next season which also comes with an Amateur Try-out for the remainder of this season.
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Stevens is an undrafted 23 year old from Montreal, Quebec that played five years with Boston University where he recorded 26 goals and 24 assists in 142 games. Prior to playing at B.U., Stevens came up through the USHL.