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

[Montecristo]

But surely you understand that's completely irrelevant when we're talking about an individual, as we can look at the reasons for him not producing as much as many other prospects in this draft class and understand that the points have nothing to do with how he'll produce in the NHL. Or like did you look at Wyatt Johnston's draft year production and thought he shouldn't be drafted?

Oh i think points as it relates to games played matters. Yes, it would have been hard for wyatt johnson to put up points in a year he played 0 games. I think injuries just make a players projection more volatile, but doesnt mean they wont be good. Johnson was probably drafted in a lower spot than he would have been had he played the whole year. That made that pick high risk, high reward. I could view mcqueen similarly.

I think there is a very good chance when the redraft of the 2025 draft happens, mcqueen will either be way higher or way lower. Id be stunned if he ends up being a player that in 10 years we view as the 7th-17thish best player in the draft. Hes either going to be top 5 or in some pile between rounds 4-6

 

[brrt]

Oh i think points as it relates to games played matters. Yes, it would have been hard for wyatt johnson to put up points in a year he played 0 games. I think injuries just make a players projection more volatile, but doesnt mean they wont be good. Johnson was probably drafted in a lower spot than he would have been had he played the whole year. That made that pick high risk, high reward. I could view mcqueen similarly.

I think there is a very good chance when the redraft of the 2025 draft happens, mcqueen will either be way higher or way lower. Id be stunned if he ends up being a player that in 10 years we view as the 7th-17thish best player in the draft. Hes either going to be top 5 or in some pile between rounds 4-6

Okay, so you understand that factors that have nothing to do with their NHL future can impact total point production in their draft year. But you don't understand that factors that have nothing to do with their NHL future can impact their point production per game in their draft year?

 

[frontsfan67]

I’ll never get how this kid has maintained top-10 hype when he’s been insanely inconsistent in every game he’s been “healthy” this season. Even his opening-night was blah outside of the garbage goals he scored. Lots of standing around and not enough possession. This is a potential franchise center? Not seeing it except in spurts.

No way I touch him in the top 15. Not a chance. His back will be a target for the rest of his career and the more he slows down as he bulks up, the more he’ll be static near the net-front and get cross-checked hard game in and game out. Back injuries never, ever go away no matter how much yoga, acupuncture, and treatment you get.

This is a center-rich draft. No way I make him the prize of my team’s class. But he’s a Brandon kid and has size so you just know some relic of a GM will drink the scouts’ kool-ade and think the medical staff will fix him up like new. Hard pass.

Good player should be top 10 if not for injuries but some red flags for sure.

 

[The don godfather]

Could be the best player in the draft 6 foot 5 centers with skill dont go on trees. Injuries derailed him somone might hit a homerun here.

 

[Montecristo]

Okay, so you understand that factors that have nothing to do with their NHL future can impact total point production in their draft year. But you don't understand that factors that have nothing to do with their NHL future can impact their point production per game in their draft year?

Sorry i lost the thread. No idea what we are talking about anymore

 

[19Simon19]

Comparisons with Cayden Lindstrom have been the recurring theme with McQueen this year given the injury. I'm in no position to tell if the risk is the same, but I can tell that the reward isn't.
He does have some enticing abilities, but I can't get behind the talk about him having one of the highest upside in the draft
Here's my Scouting Report on him.

 

[Castle8130]

Not the biggest fan if him either. Never seen him dominate a game and I don’t like his vision. Throws the puck away too much for my liking

 

[Montecristo]

Comparisons with Cayden Lindstrom have been the recurring theme with McQueen this year given the injury. I'm in no position to tell if the risk is the same, but I can tell that the reward isn't.
He does have some enticing abilities, but I can't get behind the talk about him having one of the highest upside in the draft
Here's my Scouting Report on him.

After watching your video i have concluded that mcqueens best comp is corey perry. That to me is now officially his ceiling. Great breakdown!

 

[19Simon19]

After watching your video i have concluded that mcqueens best comp is corey perry. That to me is now officially his ceiling. Great breakdown!

Thanks man !

 

[Captain97]

Could be the best player in the draft 6 foot 5 centers with skill dont go on trees. Injuries derailed him somone might hit a homerun here.

Came to say this. I feel like he's gonna drop to 10-12 and if he stays healthy will be a massive steal

 

[deca guard]

just watched a few minutes but i see flashes of elite hands , quick thinking and coordinated skating on a huge body with reach , plus hes cocky . would love to see him at detroits pick

 

[Kraken Jokes]

But surely you understand that's completely irrelevant when we're talking about an individual, as we can look at the reasons for him not producing as much as many other prospects in this draft class and understand that the points have nothing to do with how he'll produce in the NHL. Or like did you look at Wyatt Johnston's draft year production and thought he shouldn't be drafted?

Wyatt Johnson had 124pts in 68 games (1.82 p/g) in his U19 season. What would have been in his 3rd OHL season.

Roger McQueen has 20pts in 17 games (1.18 p/g) in his U19, 3rd WHL season.

Cayden Lindstrom, who McQueen is often compared to, had 46pts in 32 games (1.44 p/g) in just his U18, 2nd WHL season.

 

[majormajor]

I think there is a very good chance when the redraft of the 2025 draft happens, mcqueen will either be way higher or way lower. Id be stunned if he ends up being a player that in 10 years we view as the 7th-17thish best player in the draft. Hes either going to be top 5 or in some pile between rounds 4-6

Why would we be shocked if McQueen ends up like, say, Mason Marchment?

It strikes me that "boom or bust" should rarely ever be interpreted literally, that players really can end up just in between and be a middle sixer.

Regarding the Marchment comparison, he's not a playmaker and he's not a great shooter, which tracks with the points @19Simon19 made about McQueen. Marchment is also not super strong so, though he is willing physically, he doesn't have a Tom Wilson type of impact on the game. Now McQueen has more remarkable skating and hands, so maybe he will be much better than Marchment is, but in the NHL it's usually the processing ability that determines whether a player is able to use the tools to great effect. There are many depth players with special skills.

I'd be curious if @19Simon19 can comment on the Marchment comparison and the Corey Perry comparison someone brought up earlier.

Simon I also really appreciated that you explained part of what made Cayden Lindstrom such a special draft prospect. The way people here talk about him, it was as if he was just a giant raw lump of clay that teams only coveted because of size and strength. The power forward type of techniques to win pucks and get them off the wall and into scoring areas are very important, and Lindstrom was acquiring them at a rapid rate before his injury. It will be so unfortunate if we don't see him return to full health.

 

[Montecristo]

Why would we be shocked if McQueen ends up like, say, Mason Marchment?

It strikes me that "boom or bust" should rarely ever be interpreted literally, that players really can end up just in between and be a middle sixer.

Regarding the Marchment comparison, he's not a playmaker and he's not a great shooter, which tracks with the points @19Simon19 made about McQueen. Marchment is also not super strong so, though he is willing physically, he doesn't have a Tom Wilson type of impact on the game. Now McQueen has more remarkable skating and hands, so maybe he will be much better than Marchment is, but in the NHL it's usually the processing ability that determines whether a player is able to use the tools to great effect. There are many depth players with special skills.

I'd be curious if @19Simon19 can comment on the Marchment comparison and the Corey Perry comparison someone brought up earlier.

Simon I also really appreciated that you explained part of what made Cayden Lindstrom such a special draft prospect. The way people here talk about him, it was as if he was just a giant raw lump of clay that teams only coveted because of size and strength. The power forward type of techniques to win pucks and get them off the wall and into scoring areas are very important, and Lindstrom was acquiring them at a rapid rate before his injury. It will be so unfortunate if we don't see him return to full health.

Well my guess is that if he does turn into a marchment type that will make him a top 5 player in this draft.

I was the corey perry guy from earlier

 

[Evergreen]

Button has McQueen ranked #5 in his latest ranking.

 

[brrt]

Wyatt Johnson had 124pts in 68 games (1.82 p/g) in his U19 season. What would have been in his 3rd OHL season.

Roger McQueen has 20pts in 17 games (1.18 p/g) in his U19, 3rd WHL season.

Cayden Lindstrom, who McQueen is often compared to, had 46pts in 32 games (1.44 p/g) in just his U18, 2nd WHL season.

Brandon Hagel had 59pts in 56 games (1.05 p/g) in his U20, 3rd WHL season.

Mark Stone, who McQueen is often compared to, had 28pts in 39 games (0.72 p/g) in just his U18, 2nd WHL season.

Why are we bringing up cherry picked numbers that have nothing to do with the topic?

 

[tomd]

Brandon Hagel had 59pts in 56 games (1.05 p/g) in his U20, 3rd WHL season.

Mark Stone, who McQueen is often compared to, had 28pts in 39 games (0.72 p/g) in just his U18, 2nd WHL season.

Why are we bringing up cherry picked numbers that have nothing to do with the topic?

Yes, and both Stone and Hagel were relatively low draft picks. The question really is how high a team is willing to gamble on McQueen given his health and production. We won't know the answer until June 27.

 

[Skiiiiiiinerrr]

I hope this young man stays healthy and blows expectations out of the water. I'd love to see him Calgary. Whoever gets him, assuming he stays healthy, is going to love him.

 

[Kraken Jokes]

Brandon Hagel had 59pts in 56 games (1.05 p/g) in his U20, 3rd WHL season.

Mark Stone, who McQueen is often compared to, had 28pts in 39 games (0.72 p/g) in just his U18, 2nd WHL season.

Why are we bringing up cherry picked numbers that have nothing to do with the topic?

You're the one that brought up Wyatt Johnson. Stone and Hagel were both 6th round picks.

The point is that we're being asked to believe McQueen is a high-end talent that would be going in the top-5 of it wasn't for concerns about his back. I just don't see where that is coming from. It's possible but highly unlikely he becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel. It's possible but also highly unlikely that Hunter Laing becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel.

 

[Giant Panda]

Comparisons with Cayden Lindstrom have been the recurring theme with McQueen this year given the injury. I'm in no position to tell if the risk is the same, but I can tell that the reward isn't.
He does have some enticing abilities, but I can't get behind the talk about him having one of the highest upside in the draft
Here's my Scouting Report on him.

Watched your video, nice work.

One thing I'd mention though is that when you listed poor shot selection, you didn't factor individual choice vs team structure. Brandon's system is to take those shots, to either get it to the crease for a rebound or to shoot it behind the net to set up the next play (personally I hate intentionally missing shots but that's their system not mine). A lot of the examples you listed were par the course for Brandon's system rather than examples of McQueen's shot selection. Him taking those shots you showed were a good example of him fitting into the team structure they employ rather than the fault of him taking poor opportunities.

He does have a bit of a muffin though, he's got to either get better at that or the coaches need to let him crash the net more.

 

[brrt]

You're the one that brought up Wyatt Johnson. Stone and Hagel were both 6th round picks.

The point is that we're being asked to believe McQueen is a high-end talent that would be going in the top-5 of it wasn't for concerns about his back. I just don't see where that is coming from. It's possible but highly unlikely he becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel. It's possible but also highly unlikely that Hunter Laing becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel.

Lol, just because I mentioned his name does not make his DY+1 point production relevant to the discussion at all.

Johnston was brought up because a guy said that draft year production definitely matters for how good NHLers they'll become. Which is obviously untrue since Johnston is, at this point, the best player to come out of his draft class with 0 points scored in his draft year. So McQueen just putting up 20pts this season is obviously not a death sentence for his NHL future.

 

[Sasso09]

Comparisons with Cayden Lindstrom have been the recurring theme with McQueen this year given the injury. I'm in no position to tell if the risk is the same, but I can tell that the reward isn't.
He does have some enticing abilities, but I can't get behind the talk about him having one of the highest upside in the draft
Here's my Scouting Report on him.

Zero doubt in my mind McQueen has much higher upside than Lindstrom, he's just a better, far more talented player.

 

[Sasso09]

You're the one that brought up Wyatt Johnson. Stone and Hagel were both 6th round picks.

The point is that we're being asked to believe McQueen is a high-end talent that would be going in the top-5 of it wasn't for concerns about his back. I just don't see where that is coming from. It's possible but highly unlikely he becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel. It's possible but also highly unlikely that Hunter Laing becomes a Mark Stone or Brandon Hagel.

It's coming from watching him play.

There's never been a prospect at his height with hands as good as his. I really don't care about his numbers in juniors, his size and skill projection are enough for me to put him 6th behind Martone/Hagens/Frondell and in front of Desnoyers, given his medicals come back promising.

It's not like people are overly concerned with the limited games that Schaefer played, the only issue with McQueen should be his medical reports.

 

[19Simon19]

Why would we be shocked if McQueen ends up like, say, Mason Marchment?

It strikes me that "boom or bust" should rarely ever be interpreted literally, that players really can end up just in between and be a middle sixer.

Regarding the Marchment comparison, he's not a playmaker and he's not a great shooter, which tracks with the points @19Simon19 made about McQueen. Marchment is also not super strong so, though he is willing physically, he doesn't have a Tom Wilson type of impact on the game. Now McQueen has more remarkable skating and hands, so maybe he will be much better than Marchment is, but in the NHL it's usually the processing ability that determines whether a player is able to use the tools to great effect. There are many depth players with special skills.

I'd be curious if @19Simon19 can comment on the Marchment comparison and the Corey Perry comparison someone brought up earlier.

Simon I also really appreciated that you explained part of what made Cayden Lindstrom such a special draft prospect. The way people here talk about him, it was as if he was just a giant raw lump of clay that teams only coveted because of size and strength. The power forward type of techniques to win pucks and get them off the wall and into scoring areas are very important, and Lindstrom was acquiring them at a rapid rate before his injury. It will be so unfortunate if we don't see him return to full health.

I don't really see Marchment personally. Perry's reach is what makes his stickhandling so good (in his prime) , McQueen doesn't incorporate his reach that much in his puck-handling ability.

And yeah, Lindstrom is a fricking animal !

 

[19Simon19]

Watched your video, nice work.

One thing I'd mention though is that when you listed poor shot selection, you didn't factor individual choice vs team structure. Brandon's system is to take those shots, to either get it to the crease for a rebound or to shoot it behind the net to set up the next play (personally I hate intentionally missing shots but that's their system not mine). A lot of the examples you listed were par the course for Brandon's system rather than examples of McQueen's shot selection. Him taking those shots you showed were a good example of him fitting into the team structure they employ rather than the fault of him taking poor opportunities.

He does have a bit of a muffin though, he's got to either get better at that or the coaches need to let him crash the net more.

Thanks for the kind words !

Yeah I was tempted to point out that it was maybe part of Brandon's PP system to employ him in that role