Defensive Future Of Puck City
On a balmy evening in Los Angeles during the 2025 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators' war room buzzed with anticipation. With the 23rd overall pick—a slot acquired through savvy pre-draft maneuvering that included trading back from an earlier position—the Senators tabbed University of Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler. It was a selection that didn't just address a positional need; it felt like a coup, snagging a player many scouts pegged as a top-15 talent at a draft rich with blue-line promise. Three months later, as training camps loom on the horizon, Hensler stands as one of Ottawa's most intriguing prospects—a mobile, right-shot blueliner poised to anchor the Senators' defensive resurgence.
Photo Credit: Dan Sager/ UW Athletics
From Woodbury to the World Stage
Hensler, an 18-year-old native of Woodbury, Minnesota, embodies the all-American hockey archetype: tall, athletic, and relentlessly competitive. Standing at 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at around 196 pounds, the right-shot rearguard cuts an imposing figure on the ice. His journey began in the storied ranks of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP), where he honed his craft alongside future stars. There, Hensler not only showcased his elite skating but also etched his name into international lore, contributing to the U.S. gold-medal win at the 2025 World Junior Championship—fittingly held in Ottawa, the city that would soon call him its own.
Transitioning to the collegiate ranks, Hensler committed to the University of Wisconsin, a program known for churning out NHL talent. In his freshman season during the 2024-25 campaign, he appeared in 32 games, registering two goals and 10 assists for 12 points—a respectable .38 points-per-game clip for a 19-year-old adjusting to the Big Ten's physicality. While his offensive output was modest, it belied the underlying tools that made him a first-round lock: gap control against bigger forwards, crisp outlet passes, and a willingness to engage physically without recklessness.
The Elite Engine: What Makes Hensler Tick
Scouts rave about Hensler's skating, often dubbing it the draft class's best among defensemen. At 6-foot-2.5 inches with a long stride and explosive edges, he closes gaps like a freight train and joins rushes seamlessly, evoking comparisons to Ottawa's own Jake Sanderson—a player Hensler has cited as a stylistic inspiration."He's the most mobile right D in the class," noted one draft analyst, highlighting his ability to read plays on both ends and wield a "decent stick" for pokechecks and puck battles.
Defensively, Hensler profiles as a two-way stalwart with shutdown potential. His poise under pressure shines in transition, where he anticipates forechecks and flips pucks tape-to-tape to linemates. Offensively, there's untapped upside: a solid point shot and vision that could evolve into power-play contributions as he bulks up and refines his decision-making.Pre-draft rankings reflected this polish—No. 15 on PensBurgh's board, No. 17 in Elite Prospects' final tally—positioning him as a "safer" pick in a draft flush with high-variance forwards.
Critics point to his modest production at Worlds (one assist in seven games) and occasional over-reliance on speed rather than strength, but at 18, these are growth areas, not red flags.As one scout put it, "His mobility, size, and poise make him a potential top-15 pick... excelling in key situations already."
Plugging into Ottawa's Defensive Puzzle
The Senators entered the 2025 draft with a clear mandate: fortify the right side of their blue line. With Sanderson and Thomas Chabot anchoring the left, Ottawa's right-shot depth was thin beyond veterans like Erik Gustafsson. Enter Hensler, who doubles down on this strategy alongside recent additions like Carter Yakemchuk (7th overall in 2024).General Manager Steve Staios called it a "premium position" investment, praising Hensler's "high-ceiling skill set" that aligns with the team's up-tempo, transition-heavy identity.
In Ottawa's prospect pyramid, Hensler slots in as a top-tier asset—ranked No. 3 in Daily Faceoff's 2025-26 breakdown and No. 10 in Silver Seven Sens' Top 25 Under 25. He's viewed as a steadier bet than some flashier peers, with projections landing him as a Nick Jensen-like reliable top-four cog—strong in his own end, dependable on the penalty kill, and capable of 25-30 points in a full NHL season. The Hockey News echoes this, forecasting three more years at Wisconsin to refine his game before a potential AHL stint with the Belleville Senators.
Hensler's arrival bolsters a pipeline already brimming with blue-line hope: Yakemchuk's bombastic offense, Red Savage's grit, and Kasper Halonen's two-way smarts. Together, they could form the backbone of a playoff-caliber defense by 2027-28, allowing forwards like Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk to thrive.
Charting the Course to the NHL
Hensler's timeline is deliberate, not rushed. Committed to Wisconsin for at least two more seasons, he'll chase a national title while logging top-pair minutes against elite competition. Post-college, expect a seasoning tour in Belleville, where he can acclimate to pro speed without the bright lights of the NHL. NHL Central Scouting pegs him as a mid-first-rounder with top-four upside, and Ottawa's patient development model—evident in Sanderson's ascent—plays to his strengths.
In a league where right-shot defensemen command premiums, Hensler represents value and vision. As the Senators push for their first postseason since 2017, he's not just a pick—he's a projection of steadier, swifter days ahead. If his skating translates as promised, Logan Hensler won't just join Ottawa's core; he'll help redefine it.
Brock Finch - Olde City Sports Network
Photo Credit- Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images/Getty
