Wisconsin’s Hensler selected in first round of NHL Draft

LOS ANGELES (WLUK) — Another year, another Wisconsin men’s hockey player heard his name called in the NHL Draft.

Logan Hensler joined 18 other former Badgers to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft when he was taken with the No. 23 pick by the Ottawa Senators.

The 6-2 defenseman is the first Badger to be selected in the first round since Charlie Stramel, who was taken at No. 21 by the Minnesota Wild.

In one season in Madison, Hensler scored two goals and 12 points in 32 games and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

Hensler played for the U.S. Under-18 Team as part of the U.S. National Team Development Program. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Canada.

With Hensler’s selection, the Badgers have 187 players that have been drafted and extend their streak to 28 consecutive drafts with at least one player picked.