Logan Hensler's well-rounded game should have him on Flyers radar

If Hensler is available when the Flyers pick, he should be someone they consider.
United States v Switzerland: Quarterfinals - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship
United States v Switzerland: Quarterfinals - 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship | Minas Panagiotakis/GettyImages

Among the needs the Flyers have currently is a good, young defender. Matthew Schafer seems to be the agreed-upon top defensive pick in this year's draft. After him, there is a big drop-off. Radim Mrtka seems to be the only other one who is considered to be a top-10 pick. 

With the Flyers selecting twice after 20, you can probably assume that at least one of those picks, presuming, of course, they keep all three first-round picks, could be a defender. If that is the case, Logan Hensler from the University of Wisconsin might be a suitable selection.

Hensler is 6'2" and just shy of 200 lbs. He'll turn 19 in October and played two years with the U.S. National Development Team before taking on the college ranks in Wisconsin. He is widely regarded for being a good skater without having any real bursts of speed to his credit. He is considered to be a great passer and puck handler, but has never been the key to the power play.  He's the sort of all-around solid sort of defender you want.

In Neutral Zone's analysis of Hensler, they said:

"Hensler’s skating is one of his strong traits. He moves effortlessly for a defenseman of his size, demonstrating smooth lateral mobility, balance, and an effective/efficient stride. Although he does not produce consistent points, his ability to extend possession and walk the offensive blue line with poise creates shooting and passing lanes....Hensler defends primarily through skating and body positioning, relying on strong gap control, smart defensive routes, and an active stick to disrupt plays. His anticipation and 8 takeaways per game highlight his ability to read plays effectively and win battles through intelligence and timing."

He is big, which is something every team looks for in a defender. Thus far, he has not used his body and size to punish those around him. Instead, he opts to defend the zone and help his team transition the play into the offensive zone. 

Hensler is not a well-refined prospect yet, but he has a lot of potential. He might not be a scoring machine; he scored just two goals this year with 10 assists at Wisconsin, but if he can defend the zone and set up the play, that's good enough. Sometimes, especially on defense, the best players may not show up on the stat sheet.

His draft rankings are all over the place, from 10th to mid-second round. Again, it goes back to need and who is drafting based on those needs. If he can fall to one of the picks where the Flyers have a late-round selection, he could be a great high-ceiling prospect. He might be worth taking a chance on and further developing.