RD Logan Hensler - USNTDP, USHL (2025 Draft)

[DigitalBoldy]

Just an FYI, Big-10+ has a “condensed game” option that runs about 20-25 mins long and shows pretty much all shots on goal but definitely all high-danger chances and goals scored. I just spent the morning watching the games I missed, and you’re opinion that Hensler is a “detriment” on defense and responsible for “a ton” of mistakes was gross over-exaggeration and in some games not even factually correct.

I get you’re a STH, but I don’t agree with your assessment at all. As in, completely disagree with pretty much everything. Has he had bad shifts? Of course. But my takeaway is that he was no better or worse than any of his teammates.

Also, it’s pretty clear I’m not comparing Hughes or Werenski with Hensler beyond the simple fact that all were highly-rated defenders in their respective draft years.

I haven’t watched last night’s game but I’ll give a full shift-by-shift report on what I saw later today. I saw they got blown out so it’s more likely that everyone sucked, more or less.

You say that like it's a badge of honor. The other defensemen are not projected 1st round picks or former top draft picks. Most are long shots to be impact players in the AHL. Laatsch was/is the most defensively sound player on the team. Probably why they stuck Hensler next to him to start the year...

How do you explain this disparity:

Kehrer has virtually the same offensive impact and isn't bleeding goals against.

Anyways... It's clear, no matter what I say, that you've made up your mind. Good day.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You say that like it's a badge of honor. The other defensemen are not projected 1st round picks or former top draft picks. Most are long shots to be impact players in the AHL. Laatsch was/is the most defensively sound player on the team. Probably why they stuck Hensler next to him to start the year...

How do you explain this disparity:
View attachment 981540

Kehrer has virtually the same offensive impact and isn't bleeding goals against.

Anyways... It's clear, no matter what I say, that you've made up your mind. Good day.

I mean, if you’re using +\- as a barometer, then share how many of his minuses were his fault. At least that’s what I’d do. My review of the second-half goals against with Hensler on the ice easily absolved him (not counting last night, which I’m about to watch). Kehrer’s good below the dots but he’s nowhere near as effective with the puck. I liked when they were paired together (the opener against PSU IIRC). Then they pair Hensler with Knox who for now is clearly overmatched at this level.

Also, Hensler as a righty has been playing the left side a lot, and with Dexheimer no less. There was a game against Penn State where the Dexheimer-Palodichuk pairing was horrible and Hastings had to put Hensler there, presumably to clean things up.

Anyway, the burden of proof that he’s terrible defensively is on his detractors in this thread. I have pages and pages and pages (and pages) of notes covering Hensler dating back to last year and never once did he seem like a liability in his own end except for the WJC, and even then it was more risk aversion (eating pucks, rushed passes, etc) than trying to do too much or being selfish.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

You say that like it's a badge of honor. The other defensemen are not projected 1st round picks or former top draft picks. Most are long shots to be impact players in the AHL. Laatsch was/is the most defensively sound player on the team. Probably why they stuck Hensler next to him to start the year...

How do you explain this disparity:
View attachment 981540

Kehrer has virtually the same offensive impact and isn't bleeding goals against.

Anyways... It's clear, no matter what I say, that you've made up your mind. Good day.

Are you comparing a 5th year, NCAA senior at age 22 with an 18-year old NCAA freshman? That is a huge missing context here.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Anyway, the burden of proof that he’s terrible defensively is on his detractors in this thread.

I mean, you clearly just ignore it. Wander over to Wisconsin thread in the USCHO college hockey forums and see what posters (other than me) are saying.

Are you comparing a 5th year, NCAA senior at age 22 with an 18-year old NCAA freshman? That is a huge missing context here.

Kehrer is not going to play at the next level. Dude is a 3rd pairing dman on a good NCAA team. You’d think a projected 1st round pick would outperform a guy like that, regardless of age. I guess some of you just have way lower standards for how a 1st round pick should perform.

 

[jtechkid]

I mean, you clearly just ignore it. Wander over to Wisconsin thread in the USCHO college hockey forums and see what posters (other than me) are saying.

Kehrer is not going to play at the next level. Dude is a 3rd pairing dman on a good NCAA team. You’d think a projected 1st round pick would outperform a guy like that, regardless of age. I guess some of you just have way lower standards for how a 1st round pick should perform.

Outside Schaefer it’s really weak dmen group that’s why people reaching at straws for Hensler but no way he has pedigree as top 10 pick in the draft . Hes only in conversation because hes righty in a really weak dmen class . I would take Smith and Reid ahead of him .

 

[Bonin21]

Kehrer is not going to play at the next level. Dude is a 3rd pairing dman on a good NCAA team. You’d think a projected 1st round pick would outperform a guy like that, regardless of age. I guess some of you just have way lower standards for how a 1st round pick should perform.

You massively understate the impact of being a freshly 18 year old defenseman in big time college hockey compared to a soon to be 23 year old in his fifth season.

If you don't want this kid we'll take him. He's a first rounder.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You massively understate the impact of being a freshly 18 year old defenseman in big time college hockey compared to a soon to be 23 year old in his fifth season.

If you don't want this kid we'll take him. He's a first rounder.

For real. Sounds like the typical disgruntled fan needing a scapegoat for a disappointing season. The Badgers are a hard-working team with zero finish and Hastings needs his dmen active to compensate. All of them pinch aggressively and step up in the NZ, which often lead to chances against. There were a bunch of games Wisconsin could have sealed had they finished close-in chances but they just don’t have the personnel to do it. There’s no way actual NHL scouts are disappointed in Hensler’s season. He’s playing nearly 20 mins a night and generating more offense after a cautious start, and that’s without being on PP1.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Outside Schaefer it’s really weak dmen group that’s why people reaching at straws for Hensler but no way he has pedigree as top 10 pick in the draft . Hes only in conversation because hes righty in a really weak dmen class . I would take Smith and Reid ahead of him .

Smith is big and exciting but basically a fourth forward who constantly leaves his partner out to dry. There is risk there defensively. Teams loaded at forward who prioritize positional defense should have Hensler in their top 10. Reinbacher, Simashev, and Willander all went higher than they should have simply because the teams made defense the priority. Teams will be comfortable taking Hensler in the 10-15 range for obvious reasons — size, mobility, because he’s versatile and reliable in his own end. Highly doubtful he slips lower than the teens.

 

[NikF]

Smith has excellent 4 way mobility with 6'3 reach. I think he is not going to be an offensive defensman at the NHL level. He has a good chance, if he will be smart, to make himself into a two-way mobile D who excels at blocking entries, retrievals, moving puck out and holding OBL. With his lateral ability and stick he could be a significant piece in defensive transition. Points might never hit more than 30-40 but he could have a long career of two-way minute-eating. If he will be smart and accept that as his game instead of thinking he's Cale Makar, he will be fine.

Hensler feels more like a Derek Forbort, a long-time #5-#6 with no remarkable qualities. The size is there, he is mobile enough, he can make some easy passes and handles, he will compete but that's about it. Don't see a top 4 quality in the NHL. I would take Smith, Mrtka, Aitcheson above him without much worry.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

You massively understate the impact of being a freshly 18 year old defenseman in big time college hockey compared to a soon to be 23 year old in his fifth season.

If you don't want this kid we'll take him. He's a first rounder.

He’s a 20-30 pick in the 1st round. He’s not this perfect player that @AlternateSideParking seems to think he is. He shouldn’t be a top 15 pick. If someone picks him there they will be disappointed. Compare him to Zeev Buium, whom went 12th last draft. Massive difference in the level of player.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

He’s a 20-30 pick in the 1st round. He’s not this perfect player that @AlternateSideParking seems to think he is. He shouldn’t be a top 15 pick. If someone picks him there they will be disappointed. Compare him to Zeev Buium, whom went 12th last draft. Massive difference in the level of player.

You just moved the goal post from not a first round talent to "he's a 20-30 pick in the 1st round." Proof in the quote below.

Kehrer is not going to play at the next level. Dude is a 3rd pairing dman on a good NCAA team. You’d think a projected 1st round pick would outperform a guy like that, regardless of age. I guess some of you just have way lower standards for how a 1st round pick should perform.

You missed the context of the experience as well as physical development between 22 year old, 5th year senior and an 18-year old freshman. Teams aren't drafting on who the players are today. They're drafting on who they can be in the future. The 18-year old has already surpassed the 22-year old Kehrer's offensive production in all of Kehrer's five seasons in college. And the sad part is that Hensler's offense isn't his forte.

Now, you're missing the context that each draft quality is different between the draft years. The quality of players in the first round of the 2024 draft is stronger than the 2025 first round talent. The 2025 projected #1 on many mock drafts is LD Shaefer and he wouldn't be in the same atmosphere as the 2024 #1 pick in Celebrini. Using your logic, whoever picks #1 in the 2025 draft should be disappointed. Well, they should be disappointed, but are you not going to pick Shaefer or whoever you want at #1 because they are not on the same talent level as Celebrini? This is where cognitive dissonance should set in.

Due to the weaker quality of talent in this draft, as other have already previously mentioned, Hensler's stock remains around the lower half of the top-15. Hensler's size, speed, right-handedness, and quality of competition keeps his chances of being in the top-15 alive. At least, that is where many mocks and rankings have Hensler currently at this time.