As we continue to discuss the 2025 NHL draft class, we get to one of the better names out of this draft class: Roger McQueen. Despite giving nostalgia to either a beloved Pixar movie or a reminder of the Great Escape, depending on what era of theater you are from, McQueen has his benefits as a hockey player. As the first player out of the Western Hockey League, we will talk about it. There's a good reason he's so highly thought of.
Let's start with his best attribute. He's 18 years old, and he's 6'5. That's a towering presence already, and he won't shrink. That's not how the growing process works. He's only going to get bigger, and he's already capable of seeing over a fridge. He's only listed as 192 lbs, so he will need a few extra gym sessions to put on the muscle and weight required to hit with the power he could do, but it is a good sign.
This right-shooting forward is about more than just brute force as well. McQueen had 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 17 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Now, keen eyes will wonder why it was only 20 games, and while I'm fighting the urge to make a Great Escape pun, McQueen had a back injury that kept him out for more than four months.
His injury concerns are valid, but a lot of general managers are prehistoric and will be fascinated by the 6'5 frame. What happens to him in the draft is a different story. The Rangers love drafting based on size, but they aren't the only team. Someone will want to take a run at McQueen, and it could be the Rangers if they find themselves with their draft pick based on the way the NHL standings are currently developing.