Webber was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline
As Toronto Maple Leafs prospects took to the ice for the second day of on-ice skills sessions at development camp, it did not take long to spot Cade Webber.
Standing at a towering 6-foot-7, Webber's size is easy to notice.
While there aren't many players of his stature in the NCAA, Webber made a name for himself with Boston University this season for his never-back down attitude and effort in the defensive zone.
"A couple years ago at school, I didn't really know what kind of defenseman I wanted to be. I was kind of in the middle," Webber said. "Over the last couple of years, I decided that in order to make it to the next level, I'm going to have to be that defensive defenseman."
Having been named Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman this past season, Webber was able to transform his game by doing the little things that impact the game off the scoresheet.
In doing so, Webber caught the attention of Leafs staff and they acquired him for the Carolina Hurricanes at this year's trade deadline.
"It's obviously good to know that they value those guys," Webber said. "I know at college, coach [Jay] Pandolfo, they preached on having guys like that kind of take pride in being that defensive defenseman. Blocking shots, kind of doing the unsexy things. I think that's a big thing here and I know they're going to put all they can into developing me."
As Webber and other players made their way through a handful of drills Thursday, they were joined under the watchful eye of numerous coaches - with one of them being Jake Muzzin.
While he is no longer able to don the Maple Leafs uniform on the ice, Muzzin is still making an impact - with players happy to learn and take in all they can from him.
"He's been great. Obviously, he's won a Cup. He knows what it takes," Webber mentioned. "He's a guy I kind of want to model myself after a little bit. He's a hard defenseman, simple, blocks shots. After I was traded here, he called me and kind of introduced himself and we've been back and forth. Just trying to pick up everything I can from him."
As Webber looks to the future and towards training camp, he's focused on learning and getting better every day.
"We still have a little bit left here [of development camp]," he said. "Just going to try and learn everything I can hear and improve my game in the gym and on the ice and then just put my best foot forward going into main camp."
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