Ducks select Roger McQueen No. 10 overall in 2025 NHL Draft
Don’t let the name fool you – there was no escaping this young man. The Anaheim Ducks selected forward Roger McQueen, 18, with the 10th overall pick Friday night at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
McQueen entered this year’s draft with someone unknown, but a lot of optimism. NHL Central Scouting had the Saskatoon native listed as the eighth-best North American skater, trailing the likes of Michael Misa, James Hagens and Porter Martone. Daily Faceoff draft expert Steven Ellis had McQueen as the No. 12 overall prospect coming into the draft, and ninth among forwards.
The reason there were some questions about McQueen’s status was due to the fact that a fracture to his L4/L5 vertebrae forced him to miss a lot of his Western Hockey League season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He was limited to just 20 games, but was able to be back in time for the postseason, playing three games in the first round before the Wheat Kings were knocked out by the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Even in his short stint in the lineup in 2024-25, the Saskatoon Stallions product made an impact, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 17 games. His over-point-per-game performance was noticeable after a solid sophomore season in Brandon, where he posted 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 53 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite the back injury, McQueen was able to fully participate in NHL Scouting Combine testing this past weekend in Buffalo, hoping it gave teams the confidence to call his name.
There are many attributes that already persuade NHL organizations to take a look at McQueen. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing close to 200 pounds, Ellis recognizes McQueen as one of the top big guys in this draft class.
“McQueen has a big 6-foot-5 frame and plays with the skill of a 5-foot-11 speedster,” Ellis wrote. “He can shoot, pass and intimidate all in one shift. A back injury is a tough one to overcome fully, but his pure talent is undeniable. Few players have the pure upside that McQueen does. Still, he’s one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, much like Cayden Lindstrom was a year ago.”
Along with his junior career, McQueen has spent time on the international scene. Along with playing for Canada White at the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, he won gold with Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
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