Idžan picked on day two of the 2025 NHL Draft
June 28, 2025 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
Incoming frosh goes No. 181 to Ottawa in round six
LOS ANGELES – Incoming freshman forward Bruno Idžan was chosen by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round at No. 181 overall on the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday at L.A. Live's Peacock Arena. With this, he becomes the first Croatian-born player to be drafted to the NHL.
The first Croatian-born player to be drafted to the NHL.
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) June 28, 2025
What a moment for Bruno Idžan. 🇭🇷 https://t.co/ro3byfb7zl
Idžan split the 2024-25 season between the AlpsHL's KHL Sisak in Croatia and the USHL's Lincoln Stars, tallying 21 goals and 30 points in 19 games played for KHL Sisak before joining the Stars in mid-December. He then notched 22 goals and 434 points in 36 games played for Lincoln, ranking fifth on the team in points despite playing 20 fewer games than those above him.
The Zagreb, Croatia, native finished the season ranking second in the USHL with 1.22 points per game (among skaters who played at least two games) before tallying three goals in six playoff games to help the Stars to the Western Conference finals.
Rising sophomore defenseman and Woodbury, Minnesota, native Logan Hensler was also chosen by the Senators in round one of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday evening with the No. 23 overall pick to become the 19th all-time first-round draft pick from Wisconsin.
Hensler and Idžan are the fourth and fifth Badgers to be drafted to the Ottawa Senators, respectively. They join two other members of UW's 2025-26 roster as Senators draft picks: rising senior forward Tyson Dyck (2022 seventh round, #206 overall) and incoming freshman forward Blake Montgomery (2024 fourth round, #117 overall). Also drafted to Ottawa was goaltender Brian Elliot, who was taken in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Draft at No. 291 overall.
All-time, 188 Wisconsin men's hockey players have been chosen in the NHL draft.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's HockeyMinnesota Cinematic Highlights
Monday, November 03
Kohl Center Atmosphere
Sunday, November 02
Quinn Finley Highlight
Sunday, November 02
Badgers Sweep the Gophers
Saturday, November 01
