Will Skahan – 2024 NHL Draft Profile – The Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

Will Skahan

2023-24 Team: United States National Team Development Program (USHL)
Date of Birth: May 13, 2006
Place of Birth: Orange, CA, USA
Height: 6-foot-4, Weight: 210 pounds
Shoots: Left
Position: Defenseman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2024 first-year eligible

Rankings

The first thing to remember about Will Skahan is that he is and should continue to be a player in excellent physical condition. His father, Sean, spent 13 seasons as strength and conditioning coach of the Anaheim Ducks from 2002-2015 and the Minnesota Wild from 2016-2022. Will started lifting weights and working out with his father at age 12, and growing up around NHL players certainly doesn’t hurt a player’s development. This is one of the many factors why Skahan will see his name called in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

With his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Skahan is a huge blue liner schooled in the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP.) His present game is all about big hits and playing sound defense. He is not hesitant about playing physically, but he knows big men are under high scrutiny from referees when they put hits on smaller opponents, a demeanor he also developed from being around his dad and NHL players.

Related: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Guide

Exposure to NHL players is also a big reason for his high hockey IQ. Skahan has high-level read-and-react instincts, and his defensive positioning is solid. His wingspan and foot speed allow him to take away time and space and get on the puck quickly. With all of these attributes, it is not surprising he likes to model his game after current NHLers Jacob Trouba and Alex Pietrangelo. In addition to being influenced by his father, his demeanor may have come from the fact his favorite player while his dad worked with the Ducks was Corey Perry.

Skahan skates well for his size, especially in straight lines. He possesses quick feet, effortless pivots, and excellent lateral movements. His long, powerful strides allow him to cover large areas of ice very quickly and efficiently. He has no issues defending against other elite players.

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The Boston College commit has also played well against older opponents. Watching a preseason game against Utica University, it was evident Skahan did not back down against older, more physically-mature opponents. His ability to play at this level has led coaches at all levels he has played to make sure…