C Roger McQueen - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (2025 Draft)

[Antiillafire]

Another 2 points to add with game still going, seems like Brandon has no problem scoring. Are they a legit WHL playoff threat this year?

 

[landy92mack29]

Things are kinda wide open in the east after Medicine Hat but I expect Brandon to be one of the top teams. Hard to predict how this year will go compared with others.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Watching video from last year, I see him winning open-ice foot races and blowing past guys while carrying the puck. That indicates his stride is pretty good. I think the area he probably really needs to work on his short-space speed and quickness.

This kid is still filling out and growing into this big frame.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's a good player, but I've never felt wowed by his skill level. Whenever I watch him, I always feel like his hands look slow and he's relying on his reach too much. I wonder if people would think nearly as highly of him if he were 6'1 instead.

When I watched Brandon when Danielson was there, it seemed like McQueen was more of a net front guy than anything else. Not a ton of flash or creativity, not a ton of playmaking. I wonder if that's how he will project in the NHL.

But he’s 6’5. You can’t take that out of the equation.

 

[ORRFForever]

But he’s 6’5. You can’t take that out of the equation.

Yes, but do we end up with a Quinton Byfield? - as soon as he plays against men and he can't be as physical, he needs YEARS to develop.

 

[lanky]

Yes, but do we end up with a Quinton Byfield? - as soon as he plays against men and he can't be as physical, he needs YEARS to develop.

Yes, but I think any team making that pick is happy with that outcome.

 

[Nabrules]

Yes, but do we end up with a Quinton Byfield? - as soon as he plays against men and he can't be as physical, he needs YEARS to develop.

QB was a top 6 NHL player by the age of 21.

 

[ORRFForever]

Yes, but I think any team making that pick is happy with that outcome.

True. I'm stating the obvious : Sometimes the BIG kids take longer to develop than someone who is 6'1", so teams may discount his size come draft time.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Yes, but do we end up with a Quinton Byfield? - as soon as he plays against men and he can't be as physical, he needs YEARS to develop.

Byfield really wasn't all that much of a physical player in junior. He was just a bigger better athlete than the majority of players. Could just skate around people he was that fast. He's starting to put together all those tools finally now and had some physically dominant games in the NHL.

I watched Brandon against the Pats the other day and McQueen was scrumming it up constantly. I can see what the poster above is saying in that he isn't yet as mean as Lindstrom was(is) but Bright Eyes was very involved physically.
side note I love Junior hockey for that shit sometimes, just unadulterated smooth brained teenage testosterone

 

[Kingpin794]

Byfield really wasn't all that much of a physical player in junior. He was just a bigger better athlete than the majority of players. Could just skate around people he was that fast. He's starting to put together all those tools finally now and had some physically dominant games in the NHL.

I watched Brandon against the Pats the other day and McQueen was scrumming it up constantly. I can see what the poster above is saying in that he isn't yet as mean as Lindstrom was(is) but Bright Eyes was very involved physically.
side note I love Junior hockey for that shit sometimes, just unadulterated smooth brained teenage testosterone

Makes for good rivalries that aren't as manufactured as the NHL. Saginaw and Soo were playing their last pre season game last night and they were already at each other's throats. Running each other over. Dust ups after the whistle. All for a couple hundred people when it didn't matter.

As for McQueen, kid has great hands for his size, actually for anyone's size. Once his puts on 15 lbs down the line, he's going to be a problem. As long as he doesn't get some kind of injury, should be a top 5 pick.

 

[Just Linda]

Okay. Controversial take time.

After watching him in person this weekend and watching the tape of his previous games this season...

He wasn't too noticeable quite a bit of the games and looks like he's still having some trouble processing the game. Pretty much looked like a giant 17 year old at times.

But when he was... oh wow. Powerful shot, mean streak, was tangling with 19/20 year okds, had solid instincts

I'm in Saskatoon, I saw Dach's entire season. I'm taking this kid easy. Cayden Lindstrom is quite a bit less of a prospect than this kid. Heck, Byfield didnt have what this kid has.

If he can become a play driver as he progresses through the year and becomes more confident... I see him potentially becoming an option for first overall.

 

[HuGort]

Okay. Controversial take time.

After watching him in person this weekend and watching the tape of his previous games this season...

He wasn't too noticeable quite a bit of the games and looks like he's still having some trouble processing the game. Pretty much looked like a giant 17 year old at times.

But when he was... oh wow. Powerful shot, mean streak, was tangling with 19/20 year okds, had solid instincts

I'm in Saskatoon, I saw Dach's entire season. I'm taking this kid easy. Cayden Lindstrom is quite a bit less of a prospect than this kid. Heck, Byfield didnt have what this kid has.

If he can become a play driver as he progresses through the year and becomes more confident... I see him potentially becoming an option for first overall.

I am following McQueen for Habs pick.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I am following McQueen for Habs pick.

Would you be worried he’s too similar to Dach?

 

[HuGort]

Would you be worried he’s too similar to Dach?

Looks better hands than Dach. More of an edge also, hopefully not as frail. Should be better on faceoffs also

 

[cheesymc]

Looks better hands than Dach. More of an edge also, hopefully not as frail. Should be better on faceoffs also

He's a lot tougher and willing fighter. Maybe more of a skilled up version of Adam Lowry? But he has to be a bigger hitter, he sometimes don't take the body as hard as he could.

 

[ORRFForever]

LOT of hockey people are praising this kid and his upside.

 

[Gabrielor]

How has this thread gone 5 pages without this image?

Also, big fan; he's my early favorite prospect to watch.

 

[SlafySZN]

Looks better hands than Dach. More of an edge also, hopefully not as frail. Should be better on faceoffs also

Are you sure you’ve seen Dach? lol

He constantly play with an edge in corners and starting physical plays/has a mean streak, even too much as it could be the main reason he gets injured. He’s also not ‘’frail’’ anymore.

From what i’ve seen as of now McQueen isn’t playing like that.

But i could see the ressemblance between the two.

 

[Bubbles]

Are you sure you’ve seen Dach? lol

All he does is play with an edge in corners and starting physical plays/has a mean streak, even too much as it could be the main reason he gets injured. He’s also not ‘’frail’’ anymore.

From what i’ve seen as of now McQueen isn’t playing like that.

But i could see the ressemblance between the two.

Agreed. McQueen doesn't have that aggression in his game. That's why I don't think Dach is a good comparison. To me he's a right handed version of Geekie.

 

[ORRFForever]

Delete

 

[HuGort]

On fire to start year. Has 6 goals in 4 games.

 

[Just Linda]

Agreed. McQueen doesn't have that aggression in his game. That's why I don't think Dach is a good comparison. To me he's a right handed version of Geekie.

I can see the comparison but I don't think Geekie quite fits, McQueen is faster, has a better shot, and plays a better empty ice game than Geekie.

I'm also quite down on Geekie in general so that might impact my bias.

Geekie was also a perimeter player at 17, McQueen is quite a bit ahead already.

Writing this out reminds me how badly Winnipeg was coached back in Geekie's draft year but that's a different conversation.

I think Geekie is a better comparison than Dach, I'm not sure either is a great comparison though.

 

[Bubbles]

I can see the comparison but I don't think Geekie quite fits, McQueen is faster, has a better shot, and plays a better empty ice game than Geekie.

I'm also quite down on Geekie in general so that might impact my bias.

Geekie was also a perimeter player at 17, McQueen is quite a bit ahead already.

Writing this out reminds me how badly Winnipeg was coached back in Geekie's draft year but that's a different conversation.

I think Geekie is a better comparison than Dach, I'm not sure either is a great comparison though.

I don't like making player comparisons in general, because it's hard to compare a veteran NHLer or an older prospect to a kid. I wouldn't agree that McQueen is faster though.

Where I see similarities is that both Geekie and McQueen have good height, but not necessarily strength. They both don't shy from contact, but they rarely initiate it. I'd like to see a bit more aggression and physicality from McQueen. Maybe he can learn it, or it won't be a part of his game.

This kid went through a massive growth spurt so I'm not worried about it now. At current time he doesn't have this "edge" that some say he has. He may gain it this season or later on, who knows.

 

[coooldude]

He's a good player, but I've never felt wowed by his skill level. Whenever I watch him, I always feel like his hands look slow and he's relying on his reach too much. I wonder if people would think nearly as highly of him if he were 6'1 instead.

When I watched Brandon when Danielson was there, it seemed like McQueen was more of a net front guy than anything else. Not a ton of flash or creativity, not a ton of playmaking. I wonder if that's how he will project in the NHL.

At least in this shift-by-shift from game 1 (his 4 goal game), he shows a lot of very quick hands in tight, and a pretty quick release. It's probably one of his strengths. Would probably translate to NHL scoring.

Watching video from last year, I see him winning open-ice foot races and blowing past guys while carrying the puck. That indicates his stride is pretty good. I think the area he probably really needs to work on his short-space speed and quickness.

This kid is still filling out and growing into this big frame.

I totally agree with you on the short-space speed and quickness. Just from one shift-by-shift viewing so nobody should take it as too deep an indictment, but he seems to be able to generate good top speed with enough space, and can generate speed through crossovers, but he has a ton of inertia, not a lot of explosiveness in the first step in any direction. This means he is often trailing the play when puck turns over, fails to be much of a threat on forecheck where quickness is key, and fails to be much of a threat to cause turnovers in the DZ unless it's up against the boards where he can use his size and reach.

Okay. Controversial take time.

After watching him in person this weekend and watching the tape of his previous games this season...

He wasn't too noticeable quite a bit of the games and looks like he's still having some trouble processing the game. Pretty much looked like a giant 17 year old at times.

But when he was... oh wow. Powerful shot, mean streak, was tangling with 19/20 year okds, had solid instincts

I'm in Saskatoon, I saw Dach's entire season. I'm taking this kid easy. Cayden Lindstrom is quite a bit less of a prospect than this kid. Heck, Byfield didnt have what this kid has.

If he can become a play driver as he progresses through the year and becomes more confident... I see him potentially becoming an option for first overall.

You've got a lot more lived experience than I do watching these players. What you see is what makes him exciting.

For me to be super stoked on him at 1OA, I'd like to see:

• A bit more proactivity in the DZ to cause turnovers rather than just taking up space, and show a bit more tenacity on frequent backchecks -- if he's a C, he needs to show a bit more awareness, responsibility, and activity on D.
• Use his frame in more situations than just faceoffs and 50/50 board battles (where he looked quite good)... bang the body (he's often not able to throw the check because he's a step too late) or use the body for puck possession and creating imbalances/mismatches in OZ.
• Aforementioned first-step explosiveness would help him, and he's growing into his frame but it also isn't clear he has the big muscle fast twitch needed to get a lot quicker. However his possibly greatest elite skill, super fast hands and release, could combine with a sort of slower playstyle to be an effective goalscorer and playmaker. This is not a super flattering comparison for someone who is top 5, but the way he scored a lot of goals last year and this year (again, from my limited viewing) reminds me of an opportunistic scorer like a Toffoli. Maybe there's a more elite comp for this. Not the fastest, but finds himself in the right place at the right time with quick hands and sharp release.
• Continue growing a bit more to drive play. At least in the clip I posted, Nguyen drove a lot of the play for the line. McQueen wasn't solely a passenger, and made some nice passes and had some decent vision at times, but he also wasn't really tilting the ice.
• From my limited viewings, Martone doesn't have the same deficiencies - more actively responsible, great vision, maybe not quite as quick with the hands and the shot, but "feels" closer to NHL skillset and play style at this very-early stage of the season. Not sure either will/can challenge Hagens but it'll be fun to watch what happens!

 

[Hockeypete49]

Love to see the Flyers land this kid as they are looking for a true #1C. I just wish they needed a RW cause Martone is my favorite in 25.