Logan Hensler is one of the more fascinating, complicated prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class. On paper, he’s everything you’d want in a modern NHL defenseman: size, mobility, poise, and a right-handed shot. The right-hander is 6’2″, nearly 200 pounds, and played his first year at the University of Wisconsin after two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He doesn’t put up big numbers—just 12 points in 32 games this season—but if you’re only watching the stat sheet, you’re missing the essence of his game. Hensler is a smooth skater. He moves swiftly for his size, edgework is sharp, and his stride looks effortless, whether retreating into the defensive zone or gliding along the offensive blue line. It’s the first trait that jumps off the screen when you watch him play. The kid makes quick transitions and corrects mistakes before they become dangerous. You see it in moments when he’s beaten for half a step in the neutral zone, only to recover with positioning, angle his man out wide, and kill the rush before it starts. His lateral agility allows him to maintain tight gaps and funnel attackers away from high-danger areas. His transition work and four-way mobility are excellent for a teenager still growing into his frame.
Unfortunately, despite the mobility advantage, Hensler can be frustratingly passive with the puck. He can carry it and can make a play but doesn’t always trust himself. His decision-making can be safe to a fault. There are sequences where he pinches, finds an open lane, or even unleashes a dangerous shot. We’ve also seen him wait too long, fire it into traffic, or dump it off when a better option was there. He’s currently not a power-play quarterback, and he isn’t being asked to drive offense from the back end. Some of that comes down to usage and the Badgers system. Some of it is mental. When you rarely watch him deke a man at the blue line and rip a laser on the net, the question arises as to why it’s not there nightly. The raw tools are evident. It’s the mindset that still needs to develop. Defensively, Hensler is already mature. He isn’t a punishing hitter but is fearless in absorbing contact. He’ll absorb hits to make plays and shows no hesitation going into corners against older players. He’s intelligent in his reads, exquisite at disrupting entries with his stick, and plays composed in his zone.
Coaches love this blueliner’s low-event, responsible, steady play. He’s firm in rush defense and rarely gets beat wide. The way he angles attackers uses his reach, and then transitions the puck out with control is precisely what NHL teams are looking for in modern second-pair stars. He’s also willing to battle along the boards and take the physical toll required to clear the puck or support a teammate. That said, he can sometimes get caught hesitating on pinches or making rushed passes when pressured hard, which is part of what limits his ceiling. He doesn’t try to do too much, and that’s admirable for a freshman defenseman in the NCAA. He’ll take the puck coast to coast, walk a line with confidence, or distribute with timing and vision. However, there’s just as much tape of him rimming the puck, waiting too long, or losing scoring lanes before they open up. Confidence with the puck under pressure is still a developing trait for him.
The Minnesota-native isn’t destined to become a Cale Makar or Evan Bouchard type who dominates a game from the back end. Yet he could become the kind of player who plays 20 quiet minutes a night, kills penalties, holds down a pairing, and lets a more dynamic partner take the spotlight. He’s not the flashiest name on the board, and he might never lead your defense in scoring. However, if you’re looking for a right-shot defenseman with size, skating ability, structure, and untapped potential, Logan Hensler is your man. With time, confidence, and development, he could turn into a rock-steady second-pairing presence who helps you win without needing all the headlines, worth your top 15 selection.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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