Roger McQueen – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Away from the puck, McQueen is a solid contributor. He’s an excellent net-front presence, positions his body to block a lot of the goalies’ vision, and can quickly react to chip in rebounds and deflections. He is always looking for ways to try and score, and given his size and strength, he’s not easy to move once he sets up shop just outside the blue paint. His physicality isn’t what you’d expect from a big player, but he’s not afraid to use his size to lay a big hit or force a turnover by getting in the way. He does need to use his strength more frequently, but it has developed significantly since last season.

McQueen’s skating is also solid for a big player. He has a big, powerful stride that can get him where he needs to be quickly. There are better skaters in the draft class who can use their stride more efficiently, but he doesn’t have any major problems on his skates, gets good power from his takeoff and edges, and knows how to use his size and strength advantage to generate plenty of speed. Similarly, his defensive pressure could use some work, as he often is seen floating just outside of the play, but because of his speed, he can jump in quickly if needed. He can sometimes rely too much on his ability to jump back into things, too, which limits his ability to be a consistent threat in all areas of the game and raises some questions of his hockey sense.

Of course, a lot of McQueen’s weaknesses wouldn’t be as evident had he not missed nearly five months with an injury. After putting up a promising 51 points in 53 games in 2023-24, he played just eight games before going down with a spinal stress fracture, called a pars fracture or spondylosysis, on Oct. 11 and didn’t return until March 4. That forced him to miss the Top Prospects Game in November and prevented him from competing for a spot on Canada’s World Junior Championship team. While far from a guarantee that he would have made Team Canada, his eight goals and 11 points before the injury, plus his gold medal for Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky tournament, promised big things for his draft season.

Thankfully, McQueen is back on the ice, and although it took him a little bit to get back up to speed, he still finished the season with nine points in 11 games. As the Brandon Wheat Kings gear up for the first round of the playoffs against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, he’ll be relied on heavily to drive the team’s offense and make the Wheat Kings as difficult to play against as possible.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Roger McQueen – NHL Draft Projection

There’s no question that NHL teams love big players, and with his 6-foot-5 frame, McQueen will be a hot commodity on draft day. However, just last year, 6-foot-4 Cayden Lindstrom was selected fourth overall and hasn’t played a game since following a back injury that required offseason surgery. There was no questioning Lindstrom’s talent, but he’s already lost a year of development, and the Columbus Blue Jackets will have to wait another year or so to get their star ready for the NHL. McQueen also sustained a significant injury this season, and although he’s looked good on his return, some teams might be hesitant to risk a high pick on another injury risk. However, don’t expect teams to wait too long, as his upside makes him a pretty easy top-10 selection.

Quotables

“An injury knocked McQueen out for close to five months, and his return to Brandon has been a bit slow. But scouts absolutely love the massive 6-foot-5 forward, someone who isn’t afraid of anything and has the energy to match it. He blends a unique mix of size, playmaking, hockey sense, and an outstanding shot – he was scoring at a point-per-game pace before his injury. I want to see him move a bit quicker when he’s dealing with pressure-packed situations, but he has a unique base to build around. A team with some high-end prospects could look past McQueen’s injury issues and bet high on one of the most unique players in this draft class.” Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“One of the most interesting forwards eligible in the upcoming draft, especially with all the time missed due to injury, the 6-foot-5 centre for the Wheat Kings, on paper, has the tools to make you salivate. Watch his highlight reels and marvel at his ability to deke defencemen and spin them around, doing it all in tight to his body, despite his massive frame; look at his elite instinct to get to goal-scoring positions undetected; and of course, he can use his enormous frame and size to play physically. That said, the big question is whether he can put all of his tools together and do it on a consistent basis.” – Tom Watson, SMAHT Scouting

“He got off to a bit of a slow start in the first few games after his return, but this past weekend was a big step for him. He’s created lots of opportunities for teammates and, maybe the most important thing, still plays with that physical edge even after a major injury. There’s a reason why McQueen never dropped from my top 10, and this past weekend was an example why. Brandon will be in the playoffs, so hopefully we can see more of him.” – Kareen Elshafey, FC Hockey

“McQueen missed the bulk of the year dealing with an ailing back, but he’s returned with purpose and looked strong down the stretch for the Wheat Kings. He’s a giant of a man who has a presence. McQueen is equally adept at directing pucks on net, using his size and strength to shield opponents in the process, or extending plays and distributing the puck. In his last 10-game segment, McQueen averaged 16 minutes of ice time and produced two goals and seven assists. Almost all of his shifts come at even strength and the power play. I especially appreciate his puck touch and vision with the man advantage. He has the ability to slide off the weak side flank and rotate up top in the zone to open up shooting and passing lanes.” Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

Strengths

Under Construction/Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

When I watch McQueen, I see a lot of Kirby Dach, who was selected third overall in 2019. The 6-foot-4 centre was a dominant junior star with the Saskatoon Blades, blending high-end offensive skill with strength and physicality. However, he didn’t always look like he was playing at 100% and instead floated a bit behind the play, waiting for the right opportunity to jump in and make a difference. Ahead of the draft, his upside was compared to Evgeni Malkin or Ryan Johansen, but big players take time to develop. Dach wasn’t given that opportunity, joining the Chicago Blackhawks immediately in 2019-20, leading to more injuries and delayed development. If teams learn from their errors and give McQueen the time to develop in junior and the minors, he could become the next big star centre, but they’ll need to be patient to let him develop consistency and a more well-rounded two-way game.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk – 4/5, Reward – 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense – 8/10, Defence – 7/10

Awards/Achievements

Interviews/Links

Roger McQueen Stats

Videos