4-Star commit Will Skahan Flips from Wisconsin Hockey

In a stunning twist on National Signing Day, highly-rated hockey prospect Will Skahan, known for his towering 6'4" frame and pro-level defensive skills, has switched his commitment from the Wisconsin Badgers to Boston College.

According to Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal, four-star hockey commit Will Skahan, who currently plays for the USNTDP U18 squad, is flipping from the 

Wisconsin Badgers to Boston College on National Signing Day. At 6'4" and 212 pounds, Skahan is highly regarded as a potential pick in the first or second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

'06 D Will Skahan of NTDP no longer committed to Wisconsin. Hearing he's Boston College bound

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) November 8, 2023

A Big Loss for the Badgers

Steven Ellis of The Daily Faceoff released his "2024 NHL Draft Rankings: Mid-November Top 40" list on Wednesday, and Skahan was the No. 14 ranked defenseman.

The big 6-foot-4 defenseman reminds me of watching Tyler Kleven with the USNTDP all those years ago. Imposing, long reach, deceptive skater. Skahan doesn’t shoot enough for my liking and won’t offer NHL teams much in terms of scoring, but if you need a hard-working defender with pro-level tools to give you extra depth, Skahan’s your guy. - Steven Ellis, The Daily Faceoff

Skahan is Considered a Top Prospect

Your Great Lakes Masonry Hardest Worker 💪: Will Skahan (USA) pic.twitter.com/wrH5RxbpAF

— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) October 7, 2023

EP Rinkside’s Russ Cohen had the following to say about Skahan:

“Skahan will be drafted late first or early second. He’s prototypical in many ways, similar to the defenseman we saw win a cup with Vegas. He’s a huge tree on the backend. Tall, strong, heavy, and long. He skates very well for that size. He’s extremely tough and physical. He’s hard to play against. He projects as a shutdown D 5-on-5 that you can match to against other team’s top lines and PK. There isn’t any offense here, so he’s going to have to prove he’s puck capable in terms of defensive zone puck touches and making that important first touch in transition.”

Moving On

The news of Will Skahan's flip from the Wisconsin Badgers to Boston College on National Signing Day undoubtedly comes as a tough loss for the Badgers' hockey program. While not known for scoring, Skahan's pro-level skills and commitment to hard work will make him a valuable asset wherever he plays. Although this loss stings for the Badgers, the world of college hockey is known for its twists and turns, and the future still holds promise for both Skahan and the Wisconsin Badgers.