RD Logan Hensler - USNTDP, USHL (2025 Draft)

[Bonin21]

That is kind of scary because he is going to get exposed a lot more at NHL level

Good lord, he's a freshman. Give him two more years and you don't think he'll learn?

 

[DigitalBoldy]

That is kind of scary because he is going to get exposed a lot more at NHL level

It is also the easiest to fix of the issues he has.

I would say the big difference is that Buium has a flashier and more junior style game that gets him more fans and succeeds more outside of pro hockey, but Hensler has similar (probably a little less, but relative to his ceiling a higher floor) potential.

I don’t agree at all that he plays a more junior style game. That wreaks of stat watching. When Wisconsin played Denver, Buium was not super noticeable at even strength (good or bad). He made the right plays and had good gaps/solid defensive positioning. Not overpowering but also not weak. Didn’t cheat into the offensive zone or make dumb pinches. His game looked way more pro ready than Hensler’s game. Unless you mean that Zeev is more top 4 or bust whereas Hensler could stick in the NHL as a 6/7 tweener? I guess I don’t follow what you are saying.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t agree at all that he plays a more junior style game. That wreaks of stat watching. When Wisconsin played Denver, Buium was not super noticeable at even strength (good or bad). He made the right plays and had good gaps/solid defensive positioning. Not overpowering but also not weak. Didn’t cheat into the offensive zone or make dumb pinches. His game looked way more pro ready than Hensler’s game. Unless you mean that Zeev is more top 4 or bust whereas Hensler could stick in the NHL as a 6/7 tweener? I guess I don’t follow what you are saying.

Buium is a star in college hockey (and when he's played junior tournaments).

But what is he when he gets to the NHL? Is he a star 1D who is good at every part of the game? Or is he a slightly flawed 2D who has some major strengths, but also some weaknesses? Is that much better than a lower event player such as Hensler who will be a 3D? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

 

[Bonin21]

Buium is a star in college hockey (and when he's played junior tournaments).

But what is he when he gets to the NHL? Is he a star 1D who is good at every part of the game? Or is he a slightly flawed 2D who has some major strengths, but also some weaknesses? Is that much better than a lower event player such as Hensler who will be a 3D? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

He is a first line partner to Brock Faber for 10 years...

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Buium is a star in college hockey (and when he's played junior tournaments).

But what is he when he gets to the NHL? Is he a star 1D who is good at every part of the game? Or is he a slightly flawed 2D who has some major strengths, but also some weaknesses? Is that much better than a lower event player such as Hensler who will be a 3D? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Buium will probably be a 2D next to Faber. Hensler is a long shot to be a 3D, which is my initial problem with your analogy.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Ok, let’s wrap up the shift-by-shift. So far after two periods, Hensler is CLEARLY Wisconsin’s best defender after 21 shifts, with allowing Mastrodomenico to get a step on him down the wing on Danny Nelson's 4-1 goal in P2 being Hensler's only critical error. Definitely not a low-IQ play, as the law of averages says every defender -- Makar, Hughes, Hanifin included -- will have a guy get around them at least once a game. Still, he's had a great game thus far defensively.

Through two periods, I count Hensler 18-for-18 on pass accuracy (short+long), i.e., no turnovers passing the puck. Elite level.

P3 (Notre Dame up 4-1)


@0:51 — Hensler jumps over the boards with the puck entering the Notre Dame zone right after the Dexheimer-Kehrer pairing gave up an HD chance to Janicke in the low slot that Tommy Scarfone turned aside. Fitzgerald on the move ends up turning the puck over and Notre Dame counters for an entry, but Hensler’s stick-on-puck not only pokes it away from Cole Knuble while he’s dialing up a wrister, but he has the presence of mind for a quick pass to #10 Hunter Strand for a clean exit and an entry/net-rush by Quinn Finley that nearly went in. Yet another example of smart defending by Hensler and he almost earned a secondary assist. Notre Dame counters and Henlser stands up at his line, deflecting Mastrodomenico’s pass down the boards. Notre Dame later had a deep look but Mastrodomenico’s wrister from the right circle went way wide and cleared, allowing Hensler to change.

@2:43 — Notre Dame ices it for an offensive-zone draw for Hensler, but puck goes out of play and Hastings brings back the Dexheimer-Kehrer pairing after just 31 seconds. Hensler was at the right point the whole shift and nothing materialized.

@4:26 — Offensive-zone draw to the right of the Irish cage but puck gets cleared to center, where Hensler retreats under forecheck pressure and delivers a pair of passes from his own end into space while under pressure — one is a clear allowing Wisconsin to change forwards and the other is a look-off rim from corner to corner to facilitate the breakout before going off for a change. Again, Hensler clearly shows he is Wisconsin’s surest-handed and most reliable defender up to the midway point of the third period.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Last four shifts of the game. The Badgers basically gave up in the third period and their lack of skill up front is clear. Had a 5-min major and did nothing with it.

@7:15 — Hensler and Palodichuk hop over the boards with the puck deep in the Irish end. Irish counter quickly for an exit and entry, but Hensler gaps up on #24 Ian Murphy down the left wing and deflects his attempted centering pass. Hensler sticks with Murphy around the Wisconsin net before releasing bqck to low slot as puck is dumped into the far corner. Hensler gets caught puck-watching and doesn’t shoulder-check, leaving Murphy open in the low slot for the 5-1 goal, with Biondi making a sweet pass and Murphy having all the time in the world to go backhand-forehand-roofjob from in tight. Totally Hensler's fault as Palodichuk had Biondi covered behind the net. Scarfone is yanked.

@10:31 — Irish with the puck in their own end as both teams execute changes. Puck gets worked into the Badger end on Palodichuk’s side off a chip-and-chase, forcing Hensler to release and cover Carter Slaggert for a 50/50 that deflects the puck behind the Wisconsin net. Irish eventually collect the puck and try to work the cycle but a turnover up high gives Owen Lindmark a clean break-in down the right wing but puck bounced off his stick as he cut toward the middle. Puck would clear to center, where Hensler dished it to Dexheimer for a rush entry before changing.

@11:34 — Badgers on a 5-min power play and Hensler starts on PP2 for the neutral-zone draw. Irish clear and Hensler retrieves for an end-to-end skate and 2-on-3 entry, but he’s rubbed out hard by Mastrodomenico as he circled behind the Irish net for a clear. At first it appeared that Hensler could have peeled back at the half-wall and hit his point man, but the Badger forwards were late to support and #11 Danny Nelson was in the area to make it a 2-on-4. Not the greatest decision but Henlser’s forwards should have given him more options.

@13:32 — Badger net is empty for a 6-on-4 PP and close to two minutes remaining on the major. Hensler has to race back in a 50/50 to retrieve a deep empty-netter attempt and is immediately pressured behind his net by Janicke who takes the puck away before giving it up himself, allowing Wisconsin to exit. Badgers set up and Palodichuk and Hensler play catch before the latter fires a quick wrister from the center point that redirects into the corner. Smart read by Hensler to anticipate the rim and makes a tough keep-in at the far point before gliding into the right circle for a heavy wrister that goes wide. Irish eventually clear after a Quinn Finley miss and a visibly-gassed Hensler goes the length of the ice to retrieve the puck before heading for a change. This would be his last shift of the game.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

OK @DigitalBoldy, so to recap Hensler's 2/23 game against Notre Dame (a 6-1 loss):

-Hensler had 28 shifts and nearly all were 5v5 or 4v4 (none on PK, few on PP2)
-He completed 21-of-21 passes (short & long) without a single turnover
-He was 5-for-5 on exits with his skating and 3-for-3 on entries, but one later resulted in a turnover and clear.
-He was partly responsible for one goal scored (3-1) and one goal against (4-1), and directly responsible for one goal against (5-1).
-The penalty he was called for was entirely his partner's fault, as was the 3-0 goal against.
-He exhibited solid dzone or man coverage 17 times and blew coverage twice.
-He showed good gap control nine times and poor gap control twice.
-He made 14 high-IQ decisions with or without the puck versus four low-IQ plays.

To summarize, Hensler was Wisconsin's best defender in a game they had no business winning and were mostly lifeless on offense. His partner Palodichuk was the worst, but he was coming off an injury and was likely rusty. The Badger forwards outside of Quinn Finley were almost entirely ineffective at generating quality chances.

Any NHL scout worth his salt would not deduce Hensler had a bad game unless he was drunk, on his phone, or had an axe to grind.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

OK @DigitalBoldy, so to recap Hensler's 2/23 game against Notre Dame (a 6-1 loss):

-Hensler had 28 shifts and nearly all were 5v5 or 4v4 (none on PK, few on PP2)
-He completed 21-of-21 passes (short & long) without a single turnover
-He was 5-for-5 on exits with his skating and 3-for-3 on entries, but one later resulted in a turnover and clear.
-He was partly responsible for one goal scored (3-1) and one goal against (4-1), and directly responsible for one goal against (5-1).
-The penalty he was called for was entirely his partner's fault, as was the 3-0 goal against.
-He exhibited solid dzone or man coverage 17 times and blew coverage twice.
-He showed good gap control nine times and poor gap control twice.
-He made 14 high-IQ decisions with or without the puck versus four low-IQ plays.

To summarize, Hensler was Wisconsin's best defender in a game they had no business winning and were mostly lifeless on offense. His partner Palodichuk was the worst, but he was coming off an injury and was likely rusty. The Badger forwards outside of Quinn Finley were almost entirely ineffective at generating quality chances.

Any NHL scout worth his salt would not deduce Hensler had a bad game unless he was drunk, on his phone, or had an axe to grind.

Great work buddy. Love your passion for the game.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-The penalty he was called for was entirely his partner's fault, as was the 3-0 goal against.

I mean, you can say things like this but Hensler could 100% not get smoked by the ND player right here:

He coasted for 1-2 seconds in the neutral zone then went “oh shit that ND player went flying past me!”

It’s just built into your bias that nothing is Hensler’s fault.

 

[MNRube]

Buium is a star in college hockey (and when he's played junior tournaments).

But what is he when he gets to the NHL? Is he a star 1D who is good at every part of the game? Or is he a slightly flawed 2D who has some major strengths, but also some weaknesses? Is that much better than a lower event player such as Hensler who will be a 3D? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Weren’t you just in the Hutson thread talking about how his shutdown work at the WJC foreshadowed his versatility as an NHLer? Buium has virtually the exact resume, just with more points and more championships.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

I mean, you can say things like this but Hensler could 100% not get smoked by the ND player right here:
View attachment 984487

He coasted for 1-2 seconds in the neutral zone then went “oh shit that ND player went flying past me!”

It’s just built into your bias that nothing is Hensler’s fault.

How am I biased? He's one of hundreds of defensemen I watch a season. Go back a few pages and you'll see I tore him up for his play at the WJC.

And it's convenient that you didn't screenshot the part where the puck was behind Palodichuk and he was facing the bench, forcing him to turn around and lose the valuable second. Puck was banked toward Palodichuk's side and he is the one that was turned around the wrong way. Hensler wasn't "coasting". He was into his backskate, albeit deliberately at first. If Palodichuk stays with his man on his side of the side and doesn't pivot, he isn't late reacting to it. They were both late to react to it, but Hensler was beaten by a step, only because Knuble was already two or three strides moving north.

Did Hensler play it perfectly? Nope. I even wrote in the time stamp that he was behind Knuble by a step. Did he react in time to prevent a clean breakaway? Yes, and it's moot anyway since a) both of them could have been called for a penalty and even the broadcast thought it was on Palodichuk and b) they killed off the penalty anyway.

Listen, you broached the subject by tagging me, thinking you had a "gotcha" moment, when in reality it turned into one of the biggest self-owns I've come across in my 20 years on this website. And even if Hensler was entirely at fault for that play, it doesn't mean he didn't have the best game of any Wisconsin defender.

My advice is to pay better attention when you're at the game, or at least watch the replay before you shoot your mouth off.

Great work buddy. Love your passion for the game.

Thank you. Likewise. I know you are one of the few people on here who watch as many full games as possible. More so than people who actually cover the draft in the mainstream.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

My advice is to pay better attention when you're at the game, or at least watch the replay before you shoot your mouth off.

You gloss over so many details. I just know for future reference not to listen to your takes.

But hey, props to you for liking the guy who plays just as terribly as the rest of the badger d core. I guess that makes him a 1st round quality player in your eyes. I wouldn’t make that argument for a player. I would feel stupid in doing so. None of the rest of the badger defense is anywhere close to 1st round quality. But hey, he plays exactly the same as them!!!

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You gloss over so many details. I just know for future reference not to listen to your takes.

But hey, props to you for liking the guy who plays just as terribly as the rest of the badger d core. I guess that makes him a 1st round quality player in your eyes. I wouldn’t make that argument for a player. I would feel stupid in doing so. None of the rest of the badger defense is anywhere close to 1st round quality. But hey, he plays exactly the same as them!!!

LOL!

 

[DigitalBoldy]

LOL!

You said Hensler did nothing wrong on a negative play he clearly participated in. I haven’t had the time to dive into the rest of your post, but I’m sure there is plenty more to correct.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Finally sitting down to look through your notes and compare them to the game.

Here’s a shift-by-shift of Hensler’s last game. I’ll do it in increments:

vs Notre Dame (2/23/25)

I do appreciate that, before you could even get into the game, you managed to get the date the hockey game was played on INCORRECT. Off to a great start

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@0:23 — paired with #14 Palodichuk and makes clean outlet pass from inside his own end but #13 turned it over in the NZ — then had to engage in a wall battle and made a second breakout pass for an exit and change

A "clean outlet pass" you say? You mean a play he read a second late and passes behind Fitzgerald (#13)?? Fitzgerald literally had to stop to catch his pass.

Hensler gains puck here:

Starts to pass here:

Fitzgerald has to stop to catch the pass behind him (puck is the blur circled in blue):

Fitzgerald then turns the puck over because he lost all momentum going forward after that dog water Hensler pass. Flat out ridiculous to blame that on Fitzgerald and to say Hensler made a "clean" play.

The second breakout up the wall was much better. Wasn't really a hard breakout, but we like baby steps and positive plays:

You're 1/3 so far and 1/2 on in game takes with about a minute of gameplay gone by.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@2:00 — Hustles off bench to man right point but has to vacate to assist Palodichuk in one-on-one. Fishes puck free in front of net and escapes behind net to rim up the wall. Puck squirts back behind the net, where Hensler hustles to collect and took hard hit behind net to deliver clean breakout pass

Time is actually ~2:20 into the 1st period when Hensler jumps on the ice.

"Hustles off bench to man right point" Are we seriously praising the bare minimum here? He certainly was on the ice and at the right point, like any other defender would be. Let's not make it out to be more than it actually was.

He did have a nice backcheck and take away from Palodichuk/ND player fighting for the puck. Tries to pass to Mehlenbacher, whom is terrible and my least favorite player on the team, but it goes off his skates (cause Mehlenbacher sucks). Ensuing breakout around the net and up the wall was good, similar to the first one in my previous post.

2/5. 2/3 in game takes (though you definitely exaggerated basic things to make Hensler seem like he stands out compared to others)

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@4:04 — Play starts in offensive end but Irish eventually countered 3-on-3, which Hensler challenged with stick on puck at the line to help force an offside (finished his check after the whistle but refs stepped in)

Didn't do anything crazy here. Yes, he had his stick forward, but the offsides was more due to the ND forward in front of the puck carrier not having awareness of the blue line and puck location (and the ND forward fanned on the pass into the zone towards the boards).

Hensler spent 2 seconds where he looked like a statue in this position:

Which isn't terrible per say, but it did feel slightly lazy (not any egregious). I would have liked Hensler to try to poke check/force a turnover here:

Didn't really finish his check at the end of the play. Was more of a bump and then received a jab from a different ND player. Ref didn't stop anything that wasn't already over and done with.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@5:18 — Joins play in offensive zone but puck is chipped out. Palodichuk hands it off to Hensler on the backskate and fires a diagonal pass from inside his blue line to center wall where #28 Adam Pietila sweeps it in. Notre Dame then ices it.

Factually correct. Nice job!

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@5:40 - Off the draw, Notre Dame clears it off the near boards and Palodichuk takes the wrong route to the puck that allows Cole Knuble to explode down the middle for a partial break-in that forces Hensler into a hooking penalty. Hensler was a step behind Knuble who had the initial burst in what was a bang-bang play.

Already discussed this one. Palodichuk takes over 50% of the blame. He spun the wrong direction to make a play on the puck (if he goes to his right it's a 90 degree turn, left is a 270 degree turn ). Also why it isn't great to say Hensler is playing the same as the rest of the badger d core lol...

Hensler receives some blame because he was slow to react to his partner's mistake and let the only forward anywhere near both of them go flying by for breakaway:

This screenshot is pretty nuts. Palodichuk should have dove to push the puck out of harm's way. Hensler should have been able to catch up and poke check the puck away (forward has to slow a bit to catch and carry puck):

Hensler misses his poke check here and gets a penalty for hooking:

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@8:41 - Badgers back to PK as Weston Knox steps up and drills someone at ND blue line for interference call (Hensler doesn’t kill penalties). PP negated by Notre Dame TMM - so 4-on-4 for 34 seconds

If Hensler is good defensively then we need to ask ourselves why he doesn't kill penalties. Dexheimer was out on this PK and he sucks defensively. Phelan was out there too (20 y/o 3rd pairing player).

 

[DigitalBoldy]

-@10:07 - Offensive-zone draw for Palodichuk-Kehrer - then UW to the PP with Dexheimer — Hensler jumps on at 11:20 and has to defend a 1-on-1 after Finley dzone turnover. Hensler forces Janicke wide with stick on puck, then switches quickly to cover Knuble behind net and force turnover and exit. Puck is cleared and Hensler collects puck for bullet pass to streaking Fitzgerald before changing

Good shift for him. Defended the 1-on-1 well and then was abandoned by his teammates for a couple seconds (like wtf are Finley/Dyck doing here...) but held up well.