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

[landy92mack29]

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Where do you have him in your top 10/15 rankings?

 

[landy92mack29]

Where do you have him in your top 10/15 rankings?

He'd be probably 5th overall and in the tier 3 group for me with Frondell, Eklund, Smith, Mrtka, Desnoyers. Tier 1 being Schaefer+Misa, Tier 2 Martone+Hagens. Had some rust coming back but has super high ceiling and plays physical, especially since coming back surprisingly. If he had been healthy all year probably would have him Tier 2.

 

[LeProspector]

He would be on my DND list, personally. Too many red flags with him, injury prone, lacking offensive production when healthy, not sure what he’ll look like at the next level, lacking pace… Screams Logan Brown to me, I’d stay far away from him. Too risky of a pick and e reward isn’t much better than what you’d get from other players poised to go in the 5-15 range.

I stay FAR away from McQueen and I wouldn’t be surprised if some NHL teams feel the same way.

 

[toddkaz]

Where do you have him in your top 10/15 rankings?

It really depends on playoffs but I think he could go top 5. Sennecke was kind of in the same boat.

 

[Bubbles]

He'd be probably 5th overall and in the tier 3 group for me with Frondell, Eklund, Smith, Mrtka, Desnoyers. Tier 1 being Schaefer+Misa, Tier 2 Martone+Hagens. Had some rust coming back but has super high ceiling and plays physical, especially since coming back surprisingly. If he had been healthy all year probably would have him Tier 2.

That's one thing I've noticed since he's back. He was not a naturally aggressive physical player before but he was hitting everything in sight since he's back. I think he's still getting used to his body and learning what he can do with it.

 

[Kevin Musto]

He would be on my DND list, personally.

lol

 

[LeProspector]

lol

Mind expanding on your thoughts?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Mind expanding on your thoughts?

Even if you're not fond of the player, DND is such an overreaction.

He isn't even injury prone like you claim. It's one injury, now that's behind him and he looks completely unaffected.

You're acting like he's broken every bone in his body and has had multiple surgeries.

"the reward isn’t much better than what you’d get from other players poised to go in the 5-15 range."??

A 6'5" physical center with silky mitts and good skating, that commits to both ends of the ice? Where else are you getting that 5-15? Cause I sure as hell don't see it.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

At some point he’s worth the risk. What spot that is remains to be seen. After the injury and Lindstrom it’s hard not to see him slipping a little but his upside, risk included, is too much to pass up at a certain spot.

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

From someone who’s been following his development - he’s got all the tools. Like others have mentioned, his biggest step has been getting used to his size, but he’s making real strides. He’s shown improvement in protecting the puck and driving the net. Even his physicality/willingness to engage has been more and more noticeable.

For a kid who’s 6’5”, he moves really well, has great mitts, and thinks the game extremely well. There’s definite offensive upside. Still some room to grow, but based on the tools and potential alone, he’s absolutely worth a top 10 pick.

 

[LeProspector]

Even if you're not fond of the player, DND is such an overreaction.

He isn't even injury prone like you claim. It's one injury, now that's behind him and he looks completely unaffected.

You're acting like he's broken every bone in his body and has had multiple surgeries.

"the reward isn’t much better than what you’d get from other players poised to go in the 5-15 range."??

A 6'5" physical center with silky mitts and good skating, that commits to both ends of the ice? Where else are you getting that 5-15? Cause I sure as hell don't see it.

I unterstand why a lot of people like the player, but when I look at production, him as a late birthday and the injury issues already early in his career, and a skating stride that is suspect in my opinion - I don’t see a player I’d go to bat for in the lottery.

If he is there in the second round, sure - maybe I’d look at him and his upside would be worth it but in the top-15? Absolutely not, there are other bets to be made there. he isn’t going to make it out of the top-15 so why would I even dream about that scenario. I’d eliminate him entirely from the process since he wouldn’t be worth where my team is poised to select.

 

[Jared Grayden]

He isn't even injury prone like you claim. It's one injury, now that's behind him and he looks completely unaffected.

What's the source on that because I haven't heard that confirmed at all?

 

[Kevin Musto]

What's the source on that because I haven't heard that confirmed at all?

The source is me watching him play since returning from his injury.

Not only does he look completely healthy, but he's throwing hits and finishing checks like a mad man.

Not the things one does if they've still got a nagging injury.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I would be shocked if both he and Martone don't go top five.

 

[Jared Grayden]

The source is me watching him play since returning from his injury.

Not only does he look completely healthy, but he's throwing hits and finishing checks like a mad man.

Not the things one does if they've still got a nagging injury.

He might very well look great right now. However, reality is until he clears his physical at the combine and orgs. have their medical teams give an assessment he'll be viewed skeptically by at least some orgs. Wheeler said about a month ago the rumor is a herniated disc which is not some trivial issue to overlook. Ellis just said on Monday's DFO podcast that he knows NHL scouts that won't currently recommend drafting him until there is more medical history transparency. Especially not in the shadow of Lindstrom.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I get why he’d go 3OA or top 5 but I’m not comfortable with it myself. But on top of the injury I don’t love his passing/creation and skating for a true C and he’s a 3rd year CHLer… I don’t care about his age (esp bc he’s pretty raw despite being older) but I do think it should he should show more as a creator after 2 full CHL seasons.

But I understand the appeal. I wouldn’t be pissed if my team took him high.

Would be curious if heavy WHL watchers agree with me. Just tough guy to evaluate

 

[Peasy]

He might very well look great right now. However, reality is until he clears his physical at the combine and orgs. have their medical teams give an assessment he'll be viewed skeptically by at least some orgs. Wheeler said about a month ago the rumor is a herniated disc which is not some trivial issue to overlook. Ellis just said on Monday's DFO podcast that he knows NHL scouts that won't currently recommend drafting him until there is more medical history transparency. Especially not in the shadow of Lindstrom.

Brad Allen said on his podcast he spoke to a doctor about Carter Bear's injury and he said the doctor would be more worried about McQueen's injury history.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[lanky]

He might very well look great right now. However, reality is until he clears his physical at the combine and orgs. have their medical teams give an assessment he'll be viewed skeptically by at least some orgs. Wheeler said about a month ago the rumor is a herniated disc which is not some trivial issue to overlook. Ellis just said on Monday's DFO podcast that he knows NHL scouts that won't currently recommend drafting him until there is more medical history transparency. Especially not in the shadow of Lindstrom.

Scroll back a page and check out the article from the Brandon Sun I linked and quoted. It details exactly what the injury was.

 

[Bounces R Way]

I understand the concerns on consistency and hockey IQ with this player. Generally think he needs a lot of polish and coaching but if he already had all those things and never got injured he'd be Eric Lindros. He is obviously not Eric Lindros.

McQueen for me has the kind of tools worth taking a big swing on. Whether that's going to be top 5, 10,, or 15 in this draft I guess we'll see. Players like this if they hit their ceiling can win you playoff series nearly by themselves.

 

[LeProspector]

Just look back to another late birthday big Brandon center that entered the draft with a good amount of hype behind him and potential to go #1 then played most of the year injured.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I get why he’d go 3OA or top 5 but I’m not comfortable with it myself. But on top of the injury I don’t love his passing/creation and skating for a true C and he’s a 3rd year CHLer… I don’t care about his age (esp bc he’s pretty raw despite being older) but I do think it should he should show more as a creator after 2 full CHL seasons.

But I understand the appeal. I wouldn’t be pissed if my team took him high.

Would be curious if heavy WHL watchers agree with me. Just tough guy to evaluate

I like this player but I see his chances of being a full time NHL center as less than 25%. He shares a lot of similarities with Byfield as a prospect. Both strengths and weaknesses. And that’s OK. He could end up a top line scoring winger as long as someone doesn’t try to shoehorn him into a role he doesn’t fit.