Draft Preview Of 1st Round Defensemen In Blues Range

[TBone]

Written by an Ottawa Senators publication it's a scouting report on Fiddler, Hensler, Boumedienne and Cameron Reid.

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2025 NHL Draft: Defencemen

Silver Seven
Jun 14, 2025

It's time for Silver Seven's annual preview of the NHL Draft. Unlike much of the last decade, we didn't feel the need to start previewing the draft in... checks calendar November, but that doesn't mean that our team hasn't been keeping an eye on the top prospects available.

In a series of five pieces, we'll preview potential options for the Sens at their current draft slot – 21st overall. After that, the Sens only own two other picks in the top-100 – the Panthers' third-round pick, which could be as low as 96, and 97th overall from San Jose. They have their own 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks. Since Twitter died and a bunch of prominent online voices got hired by NHL teams, it's been quite difficult to find a lot of public information on players beyond the top-two rounds. Hence, we decided to focus our pre-draft coverage on the first-round, and will provide our usual post-draft recap of all the players the Sens end up selecting.

In today's piece, we'll preview the defencemen who are ranked in the first-round outside of likely top-three pick Matthew Schaefer, and likely top-15 picks Jackson Smith, Radim Mrtka, and Kashawn Aitcheson. That leaves us with only four other rearguards who have been consistently ranked in the first-round:

https://www.silversevensens.com/2025-nh ... -senators/

[Pierre McGuire]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

[kimzey59]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

[John Cocktoastin]

Cameron Reid. The more I watch him, the more I like.

[bluetunehead]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

[STL fan in MN]

Of those 4 I’d take either Hensler or Reid. Reid is the more talented of the two but he’s a lefty and is 5’11.75”. I’d probably go with Hensler.

I’d take Brzustewicz over both of them though but I know I’ve got him higher than most so don’t expect him to get picked until later in the 1st or even 2nd.

[Pierre McGuire]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

He’s got a great skill set, he’s big and he can skate and he’s one of the best defensive dmen in the draft which as you might guess requires hockey sense. No need to take my word for it, you can read all about it

https://letsgokings.com/threads/2025-nh ... sa.513447/

[Old_Goat]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

To answer your question: Probably his young age and size. He could likely grow some more and he can work on and develop other aspects of his game. The big D just seems to always be a good thing.
Either Fiddler or Hensler would probably be good picks for the Blues in this draft, mainly because of the R shot. We'll see who's available and...Time will tell whom they pick and how they work out.

[kimzey59]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

[seattleblue]

of the three who will be very likely taken at minimum before we pick, I like Aitcheson then Smith then Mrtka in that order

In our range, I'd be thrilled with Brzustevich. kimzey's appreciation for Hensler has been persuasive, along with catching up to him in a deeper dive. I've mentioned Reid for awhile but yeah he is LD. He is 6' at the combine (that's half inch taller than Cootes! ha).

If we had a second round pick I'd be interested in center Hayden Paupenekis who has grown another inch and is now 6'5". He was the second best Kelowna forward after Stancl and he is two years younger. Big, gets in the middle of it, hard to handle for the defense. Has skill. Rose the second half of the year.

[John Cocktoastin]

The Blues will pick BPA. No debate. LH, RH, G, F. They do not pick for need. Nor should they.

[somni]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

Ooof, Shawn Belle. I watched him lots in the WHL. He did one thing well...skate fast in a straight line. All other skills were below average.

[moose-and-squirrel]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

Ooof, Shawn Belle. I watched him lots in the WHL. He did one thing well...skate fast in a straight line. All other skills were below average.

Bret Hedican.. could skate like lightning down the boards to below the goal line and.... nothing

[kimzey59]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

Ooof, Shawn Belle. I watched him lots in the WHL. He did one thing well...skate fast in a straight line. All other skills were below average.

Bret Hedican.. could skate like lightning down the boards to below the goal line and.... nothing

Hedican at least made a nice career for himself as a defensive Dman(17 seasons; 1039 games played).
Belle was just a bust.

[Red7]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

Ooof, Shawn Belle. I watched him lots in the WHL. He did one thing well...skate fast in a straight line. All other skills were below average.

Bret Hedican.. could skate like lightning down the boards to below the goal line and.... nothing

A 17 year NHL career for a 10th round pick. Not bad, not bad at all.

[moose-and-squirrel]

I’ll take Fiddler all day. Not my first choice but I think the Blues would have serious interest

He’s not just the last guy in that group that I’d want, there’s probably 6 guys “below” him that group that I would prefer(starting with Brustzewicz and Tretheway).

Fiddler has absolutely no hockey sense. I don’t know why you think he’s somehow a Bluesy pick, but I don’t see any aspect of his game that our scouts would like. He is practically the antithesis of what we have tended to target over the last 15 years.

What is it about him that has him ranked so highly by some?

Just curious. He’s one of the more polarizing names I see come up.

His tool box.
He’s massive, he can skate and he has a bomb of a shot. If he can learn how to actually play the game, he could be a stud. But I am not banking on that given the boneheaded decisions I’ve seen him make in my viewing of him(on both sides of the puck). I see Shawn Belle when I watch him, not Rob Blake.

Ooof, Shawn Belle. I watched him lots in the WHL. He did one thing well...skate fast in a straight line. All other skills were below average.

Bret Hedican.. could skate like lightning down the boards to below the goal line and.... nothing

A 17 year NHL career for a 10th round pick. Not bad, not bad at all.

no idea how he managed to keep a job that long