Cade Webber (4.5 Star Amateur Rating, 2019 NHL Grade — B, 2019 round 4 #99 overall by Carolina Hurricanes) 4.5 Star Amateur Rating
Last Spring while Cade was playing for Rivers School he looked like an athlete. He was playing multiple positions and played them effortlessly. He showed really good feet and lateral movement and even though he is 6’6 he was willing to play catcher and he got down to block wild pitches. He also played shortstop and was able to stay down on grounders and cover the hole. And this is why Cade was not a 4th round gamble. He is an athlete. A really large athlete. We’ve talked about how big guys can take longer, well here is a prime example. Over the past 4 seasons he’s played approximately 150 meaningful games and 99 of those were for a New England prep school. Sure he played a handful with the NTDP, but he barely got comfortable while he was there. Carolina selected a 6’6 defenseman at number 99 who has nothing but upside. He goes to the BCHL’s Penticton Vees this year and plays in a run and gun fast paced league. You know what that does? It makes his athletic feet get better. He has to adapt to a much faster transition game and he has to do it quickly. As for his hands, the league is a puck control league so he has to make quick decisions with the puck and can’t just riffle it off the glass. Carolina must love this. An athletic big man improving his decision making, feet and puck skills all for a low risk selection at number 99 and he’s not even on their dime yet. And then at Boston University he’ll compete every day against other NHL prospects and he will spend serious time in the weight room and training. Over the next few years Cade’s development will be incredible and by the time he turns Pro he won’t even look like the same player.