Roger McQueen could’ve been a top-five pick this season if he saw more ice time. Here, you got a prospect with more versatility than you could ask for, elite size potential, and the numbers to match. Plus, with such an early birthday, McQueen’s someone who can make a faster transition to the pro game, meaning a quicker NHL debut.
For the Detroit Red Wings, if the word ‘steal’ was attached to any top-10 prospect who could fall to them at No. 13, it’s McQueen. Maybe there’s a question or two about durability, but if the Wings are confident injury issues won’t persist, there may not be a better prospect to take in the entire draft class, and I’ve covered a lot of good players so far.
Not only has McQueen put up gaudy numbers when he’s been on the ice; his size screams power forward potential. There’s a laundry list of things to like here, that, logistically, someone’s scooping him up before the Wings have a chance. But, playing the ‘what-if’ game a few days from the draft, let’s check out what he’s got to offer.
Roger McQueen is a do-it-all type of forward who’s still growing
Tankathon’s got McQueen listed as its No. 10 prospect, and one projected to go at No. 10 to the Anaheim Ducks. His height, at six feet, five inches, jumps out. Yeah, he’s still gangly, clocking in at 192 lbs, but that will change with some time in the gym as he develops his game.
And the more size he puts on, the more physical he’ll be. He’s also one who’s not scared to mix it up with opponents. If you need any evidence for that, you’ll know he spent 40 minutes in the penalty box last season. That’s over two minutes per contest if you’re doing the math.
Numbers-wise, he put up 20 points and 10 goals for the Brandon Wheat Kings, and this came after a 51-point, 21-goal season in 53 games. Overall, he’s got the size, tenacity, productivity, and potential to do great things as a pro hockey player.
He only needs to shed injury concerns, and he’s as close to a perfect prospect in this class as Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer.
When would Roger McQueen ultimately make his NHL debut?
It wouldn’t surprise me none if McQueen debuted late in 2026-27. That gives him one more year with the Wheat Kings, before a stint in the AHL, and, finally, playing some minutes in the NHL come March/April 2027. This would set the stage for a full-time role as early as 2027-28.
Even if the Red Wings drafted him, this could be the case. Sure, the Wings have a core, but they also have a lot of potential lineup changes coming in the next year or two. And a player like McQueen, unless he struggles or can’t stay healthy, is someone who you don’t block out of the big leagues long.
I’m not the biggest proponent of taking injury-prone players, but McQueen’s more than worth the risk. Everything, from his size to production, tells me he’s got star and top-six potential.
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