The Ottawa Senators selected Wisconsin men’s hockey freshman defenseman Logan Hensler with the No. 23 pick of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday at L.A. Live’s Peacock Arena.
With the selection, Hensler becomes the 19th ever UW men’s hockey representative to hear his name called in the first round of the NHL draft.
“I’m ecstatic,” Hensler said after being drafted. “Great organization, and I’m pumped to get started with them. Long journey ahead, but I’m super excited it’s with them. It’s always been a dream of mine, and to be drafted by Ottawa is amazing. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to get started.”
At 6-foot-2, Hensler registered two goals and 10 assists for 12 total points in 32 appearances as a true freshman. As the fifth-youngest player in college hockey, Hensler’s efforts in his sole season under Mike Hastings earned him a spot on the 2024-25 All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Prior to donning the scarlet and white, Henseler suited up for the U.S. National U18 Team in 2023-24 and accumulated four goals and 32 points in 61 games. The Woodbury, Minnesota, native also earned a gold medal while skating for the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa – the city where he will play home games in the NHL.
#6 IS HEADED TO THE 613 🤩
Logan Hensler goes No. 23 to the @Senators!#NHLDraft | #Senspic.twitter.com/nsdDN8CFlD
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) June 28, 2025
Hensler’s first round selection also stretches Wisconsin’s streak of at least one player hearing his name called in the NHL draft to 28 years. He, Luke Kunin (2016), Trent Frederic (2016), K’Andre Miller (2018), Alex Turcotte (2019), Cole Caufield (2019), Dylan Holloway (2020), Corson Ceulemans (2021) and Charlie Stramel (2023) are the most recent Badger draftees to go in the first round dating back to 2015.
The standout will join a Senators squad that went 45-30-7 during the 2024-25 season, a campaign that ended with a 4-2 first-round series loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The playoff appearance marked the first postseason series for the franchise since the 2016-17 season and the first winning output in nearly a decade.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Logan Hensler 2025 NHL Draft Ottawa Senators