The Ottawa Senators have selected defenseman Logan Hensler with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The pick was announced Friday night by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
Trade Preceded the Pick
Leading up to the selection, the Senators traded the 21st overall pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the 23rd overall pick and the 67th overall pick (a third-round selection). The Predators then selected Cameron Reid with the 21st overall pick.
About Logan Hensler
Logan Hensler is a right-handed defenseman who stands 6'2" and weighs around 196 pounds. Born on October 14, 2006, Hensler played for the University of Wisconsin in his draft year, where he recorded 2 goals and 10 assists in 32 games. Prior to joining the NCAA, Hensler played with the United States Development Program. Hensler also represented the United States at the 2025 World Junior Championship, where he won a gold medal. Although he only had one assist in the tournament, he played in all seven games.
Scouting Report
Hensler is known as a smooth-skating, two-way defenseman with a strong foundation of skills. His mobility, size, and poise with the puck make him a potentially impactful NHL player. While not particularly flashy, Hensler is praised for his hockey sense and mobility.
Scouts highlight Hensler's skating as a major strength, allowing him to effectively defend against speedy forwards and create offensive opportunities. He can carry the puck with ease, patrol the blue line, and escape pressure. Defensively, his skating allows him to match the pace of opponents and close off lanes. While he doesn't often use a slap shot, he directs pucks to the net, often opting for wrist shots.
Some scouts note that Hensler doesn't have one dominant characteristic but does many things well. He can deliver body checks, absorb them, and find escape routes in his own zone. Others point out that he can be almost "boring" to watch because he does not have consistent patterns, but is reliable in all zones.
There are some critiques of Hensler, including his occasional tendency to hold onto the puck too long, leading to turnovers. To improve, he needs to make quicker, more reliable decisions, especially in high-pressure situations. Some scouts suggest he could use his size more effectively and incorporate more physicality into his game.
Quotes
Here's what some scouts are saying about Hensler:
Draft Context
This marks the second straight year that the Senators have drafted a right-shooting defenseman in the first round, following their selection of Carter Yakemchuk seventh overall in 2024. The Senators have six selections in the 2025 NHL Draft.
