2025 Draft Profile:
C Roger McQueen, Brandon WHL
There's been a whole lot of smoke that McQueen can sneak into the top 5 of the 2025 NHL. After all, he's possessing myriad elements which make NHL front offices drool: he's a 6'5 center with some speed who can dangle, play the physical game, and score goals with laser-like precision. And although it's tough to deny there is very notable upside here, we need to take into account the golden rule: where would he be in the draft rankings if he were not huge, but rather average sized?
In the case of McQueen, it's tough to guarantee he'd even be a first round pick, even in a tepid 2025 draft class. This is not meant to disparage him, there is certainly potential for him to be a productive player with a productive NHL career. So, let's break down the good and bad:
McQueen is not a *slow* skater, as some critics have pointed out. In fact, with his huge strides and powerful legs, he is actually what we can call a moderately fast straight-line skater. The problem with his skating is actually his edge work -- McQueen struggles with stops and starts and takes seemingly forever to turn. Unless this improves, he will have trouble keeping pace with the NHL game.
His physicality is, again, both good and not-so-good. I'd call it "more ornamental than functional". This is to say, he is not a player to disrupt the dirty areas of the ice like the crease and the slot, like a Tkachuk brother would. It's more aggressive and meant to intimidate the opposition. He likes to win puck battles with authority and usually does, and he likes to let the opposition know he's bigger and stronger and willing to throw his strength around. It's tough not to like his team-ethic and willingness to stand up for teammates.
McQueen's best asset is his combination of puck skills and shooting. This kid can downright dangle, and his quick hands are expert at using his tremendous wingspan to change the angle and set up a lethal shot. His shot is hard, but not an absolute cannon-blast like a player I've seen him compared to in Tage Thompson. The finest attribute is its accuracy -- McQueen only needs a split second to pick a corner and absolutely wire the puck there. This will translate at any level.
However, this is somewhat mitigated by his *meh* passing vision and transition game. Neither are notable for better or worse, and he shows no evidence of being an offensive play-driver at the highest levels. McQueen's ideal role might be as a finisher on a line with a pair of speedy playmakers.
McQueen's biggest concern is the injuries -- no fault of his own but spinal injuries are always a concern, as they are potentially both recurring and debilitating. To me, this is the primary concern on a list of several which would have a prudent GM reluctant to pull the trigger on drafting him anywhere in the top 10. However, knowing the NHL front offices from years of studying them, it's safe to say the googly eyes these people get at a 6'5 center who can skate pretty well and shoot the lights out will see him drafted pretty early.
To conclude, Roger McQueen is certainly a player of significant potential. But to me, he's a guy I would envision as a 3rd line center on a winning team, maybe 2nd line if he has the right line mates. Combined with the injury risk, I'd have to say that as much as I like him and I'm rooting for him, I'm not sure I'd take him in the top 20, much less the top 10.
