Boston College junior captain Michael Matheson will forgo his senior season to sign with the Florida Panthers. The Montreal, Quebec native had three goals and 22 assists in 38 games played this season.

A smooth-skating defenseman, Matheson has an incredible skill set and all the physical tools to be an impact blue liner at the NHL level. Matheson was somewhat inconsistent his last two seasons at BC, not always seemingly fully engaged. When he was on, he was as good of a defender as anyone in NCAA.

Matheson was a first round selection of the Panthers in the 2012 NHL Draft out of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL. He concludes his career in an Eagles uniform with 14 goals and 57 assists in 112 games.

Matheson, a very bright student, is scheduled to graduate early in May.

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Jeff Cox covers college, junior, high school and prep hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxSports.