Ottawa Senators select Logan Hensler in 1st round of 2025 NHL Draft

The Ottawa Senators selected Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He was considered one of the top prospects available on the board.

Hensler went as the No. 21 overall pick in Friday’s draft. He appeared in 32 games this past season at Wisconsin, totaling two goals and 10 assists. His 12 points ranked second among Badgers freshmen and second among UW defensemen.

For his efforts, Hensler earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Prior to his arrival at UW, he played for the U.S. National U18 team in 2023-24 and had 32 points – including four goals – across 61 games.

Hensler also played in the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase and helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. In 2022-23, he played with the U.S. National U17 team and had five goals as part of his 28-point showing across 60 games.

What NHL Draft experts are saying about Logan Hensler

Consistency is the biggest key to Logan Hensler’s game, TSN’s Craig Button wrote. He makes an impact on the defensive end of the ice and also proves to be a solid passer. If he can improve on the offensive end, he could form into a dynamic two-way player.

“Plays a steady, consistent game,” Button wrote. “Moves puck well and is very effective defensively. Can add some offence, but his game is predicated on being a solid defensive player who will battle you hard and make sure the puck gets moving out of the defensive zone.”

To ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie, Hensler is set to thrive in transition. While the concerns about his offense are notable, he showed glimpses of potential, and his frame is another key reason he’s one of the top prospects in this year’s draft.

“The 6-2 defender projects to become a second-pair blueliner that excels in transition,” Doerrie wrote. “He is one of the best neutral-zone defenders and puck movers in the draft, who steadily improved as a true freshman in the NCAA. His puck retrievals, breakout passes and offensive-zone passes consistently put his team in more advantageous attacking positions. Being a right-handed defender with excellent mobility and an easily translatable game makes Hensler a very attractive prospect in this class.

“The are concerns among NHL scouts related to Hensler’s offensive abilities and how he might fare in the NHL. However, Hensler showed flashes in the back half of the NCAA season, drawing defenders in and making slick plays for high-danger scoring opportunities. He’s unlikely to become a 60-point defender, but 35-45 points as a steady transition defender who plays a shutdown role seems to be the appropriate projection. His NHL-ready frame is a plus, and will only improve throughout his collegiate career, which is likely to be another two seasons.”