Kohen Willis Dengler | Dengler Media

Kyle

Pereira

March 5, 2025

What makes Roger McQueen a potential sure-fire top pick in 2025

Roger McQueen of Brandon in the Western Hockey League burst into his draft season with a spectacular four-goal night.

It didn’t stop there.

McQueen put up 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in his first eight games of the Western Hockey League season — and then suddenly he was stopped.

The 6-foot-5, 197-pound center, slotting in at No. 7 in FCHockey’s Preliminary ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, had to hit the pause button because of an upper-body injury that sidelined him until early March. McQueen, who also missed 15 games last season because of an upper-body injury, was an eye-opening prospect before. He’ll be again as a potential top-10 talent in the 2025 draft class.

But do the surface level stats and production match what’s underneath the hood for the 18-year-old who has returned to net one point — an assist — in two games since his return?

What did McQueen, who slotted in at No. 6 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking, provide in the early going of this season that has allowed him to produce as he has?

We explore.

McQueen’s skating concerns

Having watched McQueen last season and through the early part of this season, it is clear that his skating has improved, though he remains an average skater at best. As a larger player, this is to be expected. It is encouraging to see that his skating has not only improved from last season but also from game to game this year, as he appears to display more skating ability with each outing.

In particular, his top speed has noticeably increased. When given time and space, he can win some races. However, his acceleration and edge work still lag behind. McQueen’s skating appears labored at times, and he struggles when making turns. When play changes direction quickly, he can fall a step behind. That said, he has shown flashes this season where he executed tight turns and quick changes of direction, indicating he can use his edges effectively. He simply needs to gain more consistency as a skater. NHL skating coaches can help with this, and given his size, any improvement in his skating will be a welcome sign moving forward.

Offensive zone presence

As indicated by his statistics, McQueen’s offensive zone presence is certainly felt by his opponents. Unsurprisingly, it is his shooting that catches the eye. While his shot isn’t particularly powerful, his accuracy can frustrate goalies. In the three games tracked, he managed to fire shots that forced the goalie to squeeze their arms tightly to prevent the puck from trickling through. He has a knack for finding soft spots that are difficult to defend against. McQueen can also pick corners when given the opportunity, and his one-timer is a dangerous tool he utilizes whenever possible.

Regarding his playmaking ability, he does not pose a significant threat to opposing teams. Most of his passes aim to extend offensive possessions and shift opposing coverage, creating different angles and looks for his teammates. He is not one to consistently set up dangerous scoring chances. Away from the puck, McQueen tends to position himself around the dots and hash marks, typically staying on the perimeter. This positioning allows him to set up for one-timers but limits his overall game. He drives the net hard on the rush, but that is the only time he appears close to the net. Moving forward, he needs to expand his positioning by getting tighter to the net, both with and without the puck, especially given his size and ability to protect the puck with his strength and reach advantages.

Possession-based passing efficiency

Analyzing the tracked statistics from those three games at even strength, it becomes clear that McQueen focuses more on wearing down opponents and extending possessions than on putting pucks in dangerous areas. He attempted 15 passes in the offensive zone, completing 12 for an 80% completion rate. Of those attempts, only four were considered dangerous (cross-ice or centered/slot passes). McQueen recorded just one shot assist—meaning a pass that directly leads to a shot on goal—and did not generate a scoring chance. He also attempted seven cycle passes, completing five, and four passes to the point, completing three.

His ability to wear opponents down and extend possessions is not solely reliant on passing. He held the blue line on two oppositional clearing attempts and forced six turnovers off the forecheck. This trait of being a burden on the opposition is highly valued. However, he did give away the puck four times, with three of his passes intercepted. He was knocked off possession only once, demonstrating his strength on the puck and stability on his feet.

These numbers did not change much on the power play, as he attempted 22 offensive zone passes, completing 20 for a 90.91% completion rate. However, he did not record a single shot assist or generate a scoring chance as a passer, with only one dangerous pass attempt. Instead, he completed 10 of his 11 cycle passes and four of his five passes to the point, maintaining his possession-based passing strategy.

Dangerous shooting ability will carry his draft stock

Meanwhile, McQueen attempted 11 shots, with six on goal, recording one goal in those even-strength opportunities. All 11 of his shots were classified as dangerous shot types (one-timers, tips, rush shots), and six were considered dangerous by location (home-plate area). His lone even-strength goal came off the rush as a one-timer from a pass by a teammate. Of the shots that did not hit the net, three were blocked.

On the power play, McQueen scored twice. He recorded 12 shot attempts, with seven on net. Of those attempts, six were dangerous by type and four were dangerous by location. He had two shots blocked during these situations.

McQueen’s offensive game summarized

McQueen is a goal-scorer with a strong one-timer and an innate ability to find open spots to unleash it. However, there are areas that require improvement. His playmaking, as noted, is not particularly threatening. Enhancing this aspect of his game could significantly boost his NHL potential. Additionally, he tends to play too much on the outskirts of high-danger areas. Positioning himself closer to the net while maintaining the vision and intelligence to receive passes would create even more scoring opportunities. Being a perimeter player is not the most favorable trait for projecting future upside and impact, so this will be scrutinized by teams moving forward.

His four-goal game breakdown

McQueen’s four-goal game was not among the tracked games, but let’s take a look back to see how he scored those goals and whether they align with his recent performances. His first goal came on the power play, right in front of the net. He did an excellent job backing into the low slot after a point shot, and his quick hands allowed him to find a good angle to score. His second goal occurred during a 6-on-5 sequence with an extra attacker on the ice; he delivered a brilliant shot from an odd angle that slipped right over the goalie’s shoulder. His third goal came off the rush after a teammate’s net drive was denied, allowing him to pounce on the rebound in the slot. His fourth was an empty-net finish from his own end.

In summary, McQueen has a hard and accurate shot, with accuracy being his strongest trait. However, he needs to enhance his game as a playmaker and improve his off-puck positioning to build a stronger upside. Additionally, the majority of his goals have not come at even strength.

McQueen in transition

Concerns about McQueen’s upside arise when it comes to transitioning the puck. In the three tracked games, his teammates attempted 72 zone entries at even strength with McQueen on the ice. Of those, 20 were controlled zone entries, 26 were dumped in, and 26 were unsuccessful, resulting in a success rate of just 27.8% with McQueen on the ice. Individually, he was involved in only 29.2% of his team’s attempts to gain the zone and accounted for 40% of the controlled entries.

Regarding exits, his team made 72 exit attempts with McQueen on the ice. Of those, 28 were controlled exits, 27 were uncontrolled (chip-outs), and 17 were failed exits, yielding a controlled exit rate of 38.9%. McQueen accounted for 23.6% of his team’s exit attempts and contributed to 35.7% of the controlled exits.

Ultimately, he was not a focal point of his team’s transitional game. While this is not a major concern for a player, it does limit his ability to carry his own line. For example, players like Connor McDavid and Brayden Point lead their teams in transition, making them significant difference-makers. McQueen should focus on improving in this area to enhance his potential.

McQueen entering the offensive zone

As mentioned, McQueen isn’t the most active player in the transitional aspect of the game. But when he is involved, how does he perform? In the three aforementioned games, McQueen was directly involved in 21 entry attempts, with eight being controlled entries. Meanwhile, five were dump-ins and eight were failed entries. This means he successfully generated entries on 38.1% of his attempts, while failing to gain the zone at the same rate. These numbers aren’t impressive and reinforce the idea that McQueen may be more of a complementary piece on a top-six line in the future.

The main issue with his entry attempts stems from some bad habits. He plays a bit too lackadaisical, carrying the puck too casually. Although McQueen has good stickhandling skills, he needs to be smarter with his lanes when attempting to gain the zone and threaten opponents in a congested neutral zone. At times, he made it too easy for opponents to knock the puck off his stick. Additionally, his skating holds him back; he lacks the speed and agility needed to navigate traffic effectively, which was evident during gameplay. There were also several instances where he was too casual with his passes, missing easy opportunities by not putting in the necessary effort to complete them.

Exiting the defensive zone

When it comes to exiting the defensive zone, McQueen’s efficiency improves. He was directly involved in 17 exit attempts, with 10 resulting in controlled exits. Meanwhile, four were cleared without possession, and three were failed exits. This means McQueen was successful on 58.82% of his exit attempts, failing on just 17.65% of them. These numbers are significantly better than his entry statistics and indicate his awareness and ability to limit mistakes near his own net. However, his entry performance needs improvement, especially as the transitional aspect of hockey grows in importance and receives more scrutiny.

Solid defensive zone impact

When it comes to defending his own end, McQueen demonstrates another strength. He is generally in the right positions and uses his larger frame to take away time and space. Overall, he recorded 18 defensive zone puck touches at even strength, turning the puck over just twice. Meanwhile, he forced seven takeaways and blocked a shot. When involved in the play, he positively impacts his team. His low turnover rate and the minimal failures when exiting the defensive zone indicate he is smart with the puck in his own end.

That being said, his skating hinders his overall effectiveness. He can lose track of his assignments if the puck carrier is a more agile skater. Additionally, he can be a bit too complacent at times. If he were to be more aggressive, within reason, when pressuring puck carriers, his efficiency could improve further—especially considering his size already helps him take up space. A stronger motor in his own end could make him a coach’s favorite at the next level.

Projection: Where will he go and what role will he play?

Unfortunately for McQueen, he is projected to miss a significant amount of time due to an injury, which could impact his draft position among general managers selecting in the top half. If he can return to the level he showcased at the start of the season, his stock may rebound. However, there are valid concerns.

I understand that I may be overly critical of a young player, but historically, many larger players who exhibit a reliable defensive game and a strong shot are often selected too early and fail to meet expectations due to overlooked red flags. This is one of those cases. The top 10 to 15 picks in the draft are typically reserved for players who can genuinely impact a franchise. McQueen’s transitional struggles and largely one-dimensional offensive game suggest he may be more of a complementary player. A fringe top-20 pick would be a reasonable projection for him. However, unless he has a slow finish to the season due to his injury, it is likely he will be selected closer to 10 than to 20.

Regarding his NHL projection, McQueen appears to be more of a middle-six forward than a top-six player. If he can be paired with a strong playmaker who controls the pace of play he could become a dominant piece alongside that player. However, he currently lacks the profile of a player capable of leading a top-six line independently. Should his skating improve and he develop greater playmaking abilities, that assessment may change.

Time will tell, especially as he recovers from a significant injury.

What others are saying

“McQueen is a rangy centre whose physical stature is an asset all over the ice. His size is impressive and he has a massive wingspan, aiding in both defending and retrieving errant passes. He finishes his check and has a real edge to his game when he gets pissed off. Though he’s got long arms, he has a great, great set of hands and he can pull the puck from east to west in a split second.” — FCHockey scout Aaron Vickers

McQueen’s games tracked:

September 28, 2024 versus Saskatoon Blades
October 4, 2024 versus Edmonton Oil Kings
October 5, 2024 versus Swift Current Broncos

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