Zak MacMillan: Draft Day Blog

From Dobberprospects

Final Rankings – Logan Hensler has been a hard one to figure out. With his great skating and NHL-level tools, it’s fairly easy to project him to play in the NHL at some capacity. Based on the flashes of offensive upside, we believe that with continued development, he could grow into a puck-moving second-pair defenseman.—Anni Karvinen

June 2025 – The mobile defender from Wisconsin has bounced up and down on our draft board. Hensler’s tools are undeniable—a right-handed defenseman with a good frame and excellent skating ability—and they’ve kept him firmly in our first round all season long. While we would have liked to see more from him, especially as an offensive creator, his game improved as the season went on, and we’re pretty confident there’s an NHLer there. His development and how he utilizes his tools will ultimately decide whether he plays as a mobile second-pairing defender or settles into more of a supporting role on the third pairing. Anni Karvinen

January 2025 – There was a lot of handwringing about Hensler’s lack of production to start the year. Even though he hasn’t changed into an offensive force, thanks in part to a steady performance at the WJC, we’re still high on his upside.

Hensler’s greatest strength is his rush defense, which is easily among the best in the class. He’s proactive in breaking up plays in both the neutral zone and when pinching. Hensler has a very timely defensive stick and closes gaps in a smooth, controlled fashion.

Standing at a lanky 6-2, what defensive areas Hensler does need to shore up can largely be accomplished by growing into his frame and building that strength. As Hensler is such a strong defensive base to build on, we feel confident projecting him as a top four defender. Luke Sweeney

Nice little bit of business by the Senators this weekend. Getting that extra pick and moving back in the first round, but still able to get "your guy" in Hensler was nice. But moving that extra draft piece to go get Spencer on defence from LA was excellent. Getting a decent quality right d-man without sacrificing any current team member was beautiful.
Then moving up a tad to get Blake Vanek (big boy at age 18 .... 6ft 3in, 205lbs). Talented (father is Thomas Vanek ... over 1000 games in NHL). Vanek certainly knows or will know what it takes to get to the NHL.

I also like the fact we snuck in 2 goalies in this draft. Now its just a waiting game to watch them develop and see where they go. Ottawa is getting deeper at the goalie end of the spectrum which increase our odds of developing a legit goalie in the future. No guarantees, but the more darts you have, the better the odds of hitting the board.
Ullmark is the number 1
Merilainen is probably 2
Sogaard will have a shot as number 2 as well but I think his recent injury issues have put him back, and another full year in the AHL may do him well (but he will have to clear waivers to be sent down)
Maybe Sens sign Forsberg for 1 more year as back up but I think teams out there will pay him more (maybe 2-2.5 million) but give him 2-3 years term. Ottawa won't do that. I hope Ottawa signs him to 1 year and then looks to trade him by the deadline and then bring up Merilainen. This gives both Merilainen and Sogaard the ability to continue developing for another season.
Also in the minors are Reidler (he will play in Penn State this year) and Nikitin (unsure where he is playing) who are both 20 and years away in development. Both are still unsigned. Now we add Beckman (will he play for his Q team, or go to University route?) and Trofimov (playing junior, MHL, in Russia) to that mix. Either way, both of these guys are still a long way away in development.

One year deal for Giroux, $2M base salary plus $750k in games played bonuses, $250k in making the playoffs, and another $1.75M in playoff progress round by round bonuses.

Tidy bit of work

One year deal for Giroux, $2M base salary plus $750k in games played bonuses, $250k in making the playoffs, and another $1.75M in playoff progress round by round bonuses.

Tidy bit of work
- OttawaB

Giroux is a very good signing. He has accepted 3rd line money and that is fair on both sides of the deal.

Are the Sens having hopes and leaving space for the addition of a top line skater?

IMO the only bit of stuff left to do is to sign Merilainen, regardless of using him as back-up or to AHL. Could he be a possible offer sheet candidate?

Then its just a matter of filling out the 4rth line.

Giroux with Greig and Pinto for 3rd line.

Amadio and Halliday + ??? for 4rth line and 13 forward (??).


I think Ottawa will have around $5 million in cap space when all is said and done. They will keep this until the trade deadline.

If they make any changes in free agency, I think it will come via trade. The only free agent that may come to Ottawa is Brock Boeser IMO. But he will cost around 7-9 million. Who do you trade to make cap room. While Perron may be the obvious choice, he has a no trade clause. Amadio is a friendly $2.8 million, Pinto ?

Quite like the Jordan Spence trade. People seem to think he has a lot of upside.

It will be interesting to see where he lines up, and if he can get a real shot at the second pairing. This may mean Jensen needs more time to recover. Either way it should make the Defence better.

IMO the only bit of stuff left to do is to sign Merilainen, regardless of using him as back-up or to AHL. Could he be a possible offer sheet candidate?

Then its just a matter of filling out the 4rth line.

Giroux with Greig and Pinto for 3rd line.

Amadio and Halliday + ??? for 4rth line and 13 forward (??).


I think Ottawa will have around $5 million in cap space when all is said and done. They will keep this until the trade deadline.

If they make any changes in free agency, I think it will come via trade. The only free agent that may come to Ottawa is Brock Boeser IMO. But he will cost around 7-9 million. Who do you trade to make cap room. While Perron may be the obvious choice, he has a no trade clause. Amadio is a friendly $2.8 million, Pinto ?
- OttawaB

It does seem like Staos has one more trade or move on mind, but options are limited.

The team is high on Pinto and he seems ti be part of the structure they have in mind up the middle.

Perron seems a bit redundant, but consdering ladt season I'd guess the team wouldn't want to move him. He looked much better as the year went on too.

Possible Zub trade? I wouldn't want to as the D really needs stability, but it may depend on how highly tbey think about Spence.

Heck of a summary there Zach. Care to start a Pens blog as well?

I'd be pretty happy with where the Sens are positioned at the moment. Last big piece of business is Karlsson after the Pens pick up his signing bonus tomorrow!

And trust me... you want to Staios to be on the phone with Dubas right now. There is no GM that overthinks himself to death more than Kyle.

We had #11, #12 & a mid 2nd rounder... we came away with Kindel, Zonnon & Horcoff.... I don't hate the players, but man... what's the point of having high draft picks if you are just going to pick guys that belong in the 20-40 range anyway?

We could have had Jackson Smith, Eklund and probably still had Horcoff with that mid 2nd pick. Really mad we didnt come away with Smith or even Aicheson.

Spence was a nice pickup and I would have been happy with Hensler where you picked him.

So how about this for a line-up potential.

Tkachuk/Stutzle/Boeser (I would call it the Spelling Mistakes Line ... SML)
Zetterlund/Cozens/Batherson
Greig/Pinto/Giroux
Perron/Halliday/Amadio
Extra 13th forward ????

Our 4rth line signings are limited to 1 person.

Defence
Sanderson/Zub
Chabot/Spence ..... Jensen if healthy
Klevin/Matinpalo

Goalies
Ullmark/Merilainen or Sogaard

We would elevate Halliday from Belleville, and re-sign Merilainen, sign a 13th forward, and get Boeser in free agency.
I think our defence is a bit small and not tough and does not play heavy.
I would trade Zub (has been more prone to injury lately (played 53, 69, 55 games over last 3 seasons). Would look for a player similar to Hague only a righty. Big, plays heavy but can skate.