He played ten seasons as a goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Quakers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens.

After World War I broke out, the family relocated to England where his father Harry was serving with a Canadian contingent.

Wilf was a childhood friend of Charlie Gardiner, who would also play in the National Hockey League.

In 1931–32, with the Quakers having suspended operations, Cude had the distinction of being the NHL's spare goaltender, playing for whatever team needed backup.

[3] In 1933, the Quakers traded Cude to the Montreal Canadiens who already had George Hainsworth as their star goaltender.

Before the 1933–34 season, Hainsworth was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for similarly distinguished Lorne Chabot.

Cude played one game for the Canadiens before he was loaned to the Detroit Red Wings, where he posted an outstanding campaign.

He wound up leading the Red Wings to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance, though they lost to Charlie Gardiner and the Chicago Black Hawks, falling three games to one in the best-of-five series.