The last time the Montreal Canadiens used their first-round selection on a right-shot defenseman, the fans weren’t thrilled, far from it. The general feeling was that leaving Matvei Michkov on the board to draft David Reinbacher was a mistake. Two years down the line, Michkov has just played his rookie season in the NHL while Reinbacher spent most of the year nursing a knee injury, and the Habs’ cupboard is still not stacked with right-shot defensemen.
That’s where Logan Hensler could come in. The 6-foot-2 and 192-pound right-shot blueliner is ranked 12th on the final Central Scouting list of North American skaters. TSN’s Bob McKenzie ranks him at number 11 and Craig Button at number 26, while THN’s writers Ryan Kennedy and Tony Ferrari have him at 16 and 21, respectively.
For a youngster of his size, Hensler skates very well and is very mobile, a lethal combination for a blueliner of his size. He can also change direction quickly, with ease, and is an excellent shutdown defenseman.
In his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, he has improved throughout the season, getting accustomed to the increased speed of the game at the NCAA level. In 32 games, he has picked up 12 points (two goals and 10 assists), and there’s a sense that he has yet to fully develop the offensive side of his game, which was hard to do on a weak Wisconsin side.
On the defensive side of the puck, he’s at ease battling for the puck and knows how to use his big frame to win battles. His long reach also helps him to close down opponents and push them out of the danger zones. His elite skating would also be a valuable skill to play in a league that sees more and more rushes up the ice.
To top it all off, he also possesses a high hockey IQ, which enables him to read the game at an elite level and make sound decisions quickly. Hensler possesses the tools to become an effective defenseman and an offensive threat, provided he is given the time to develop correctly.
If the Habs keep their first-round picks and Hensler is still available when their turn comes at 16th overall, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them look his way.
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