Wisconsin's Logan Hensler went 23rd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Ottawa Senators. While he slid a little more than many experts were projecting, the Senators were able to judge the draft value for Hensler perfectly, moving back two spots, picking up an extra third-round pick, and still getting the defenseman that they wanted.
Senators' chief scout, Dan Boyd, talked profusely about Hensler after Ottawa drafted him on Friday night. He talked about how he's a great skater and can move the puck, "Which is exactly what we need to keep the puck out of our zone," Boyd said.
There's a clear path forward for Hensler and the Senators. He becomes a great foil to Jake Sanderson. He may even be a second-line player in his rookie season, as his consistency and reliability on defense are NHL-ready. There are some things he can add to his game, but with college experience, he has some experience under his belt to get a jump into the league.
Ottawa Senators pick Logan Hensler at 23. I ranked him 9th.
— David Saad (@SaadScouting) June 28, 2025
Back-to-back RD but I am a much bigger fan of Hensler. I am confident that he's an NHLer to some capacity and I love the idea of him serving as a foil to Jake Sanderson. Really great pick for the Sens. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/H7uxnHvFnW
Logan Hensler was drafted 23rd by the Ottawa Senators
The Senators are excited about their pick in Hensler. According to Boyd, they had their eye on him and loves the way he works the ice, uses his skates to his advantage, and is a really solid right-handed defenseman. The size, strength, and college pedigree help push him over the top to be the Senators' pick.
Hensler becomes the Badgers' 19th first-round pick and their 187th pick ever. He has a streak of 28 consecutive years of a Wisconsin player being drafted in the NHL. The Badgers may not have had the best season last year, but they are still one of the most prolific NHL producers in all of college hockey. Hensler is another excellent example of this run.
There's a chance that the Badgers also see another player drafted with incoming freshman, Bruno Idžan, being listed as the 67th best prospect by NHL Central Scouting.