Roger McQueen 2025 NHL Draft Profile

McQueen’s on-ice production

McQueen began his WHL career with Brandon in 2022–23. He played in 55 games with the Wheat Kings, notching four goals and 14 points. It certainly took McQueen some time to get adjusted to the WHL. McQueen also participated in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Canada White U17. He scored four goals and eight points in six games.

The 2023–24 season was a much better campaign after McQueen had adjusted to the WHL. In 53 games, McQueen scored 21 goals and 51 points in 53 games.

McQueen started the 2024–25 season off very strongly. In fact, he scored four goals in his first game of the season. Unfortunately, McQueen played all of eight games before he was sidelined with a spinal stress fracture. McQueen didn’t return to action until the beginning of March. McQueen ended the regular season with 20 points in 17 games. McQueen appeared briefly in the U18 World Championship, where he had one assist in two games played.

McQueen’s strengths

Puck skills

The most impressive trait in McQueen’s game is his play with the puck. He can move the puck so effortlessly. He can weave through opposing players while keeping complete control of the puck.

Offensive zone play

McQueen stands out in the offensive zone in all aspects. He’s a fantastic net front presence—screening the goalie or tapping in a puck on the rebound. McQueen has a very accurate shot and can find the softer spots on the ice with great opportunity to score.

Size

The thing that will excite people before they even dig into his stats or play style is his size. Standing at 6’5” already, the potential is through the roof. If there are two things NHL executives love, it’s big centres and big defencemen.

McQueen’s areas of improvement

Injury

The biggest question with McQueen is, of course, his injury history. That’s not really something McQueen can improve, but it will be a major deterrent for teams.

Physicality

For a player as tall as McQueen, you would expect some physicality in his game. That could be the extensive injury history that scares McQueen when he’s in contact situations.

McQueen’s comparables

The comparison to Tage Thompson is obvious. Like Thompson, McQueen has a good stride for a tall player and can weave through traffic. Another player McQueen has garnered comparisons to is Kirby Dach, given their position, right-handedness, and injury history. Quinton Byfield is a left-shot, but McQueen has also drawn comparisons to him.

Fit with the Flames

McQueen could slip due to his extensive injury history. A team with multiple first-round picks might be the one to take a swing. Enter the Calgary Flames. McQueen checks off a couple of major needs for the Flames—right shot and centre. The Flames have been looking for a right-shot centre for quite some time. Plus, McQueen adds size down the middle of the ice.

Summary

In five years, we could be looking back at McQueen and where he was drafted. It could be, “I can’t believe he was drafted that high”. Or, it could be “I can’t believe he fell to that slot”. There are lots of things to love in McQueen’s game, but there are genuine risks as well. Does high risk equal high reward here? His potential could be sky-high if everything goes right.

A similar story took place last year when Columbus selected Cayden Lindstrom fourth overall. A big and powerful player, Lindstrom had an injury history before being drafted. Since then, Lindstrom missed the entire 2024–25 season with a back injury.

Risk: 4.5/5

Reward: 4.7/5

Projection: Top-six centre

Check out all of The Win Column’s individual player profiles of selected 2025 NHL draft prospects:

Matthew Schaefer | Micheal Misa | James Hagens | Porter Martone | Anton Frondell | Victor Eklund