Anaheim Ducks Select Roger McQueen with 10th Overall Pick in 2025 NHL Draft
The Anaheim Ducks selected center Roger McQueen with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night in Los Angeles.
McQueen, an 18-year-old from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 192 pounds. He played the 2024–25 season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 games before an injury sidelined him for much of the year. He returned briefly for the WHL playoffs, but was again limited to just three postseason appearances.
Despite missing significant time, McQueen remained one of the highest-upside prospects in the draft. He opened the season with eight points in his first three games and was widely regarded as a potential top-five pick before suffering a lower back injury, later diagnosed as a fracture in his L4/L5 vertebrae. He confirmed post-combine that he’s been pain-free since late April and participated fully in all testing.
At the NHL Scouting Combine, McQueen compared his game to former Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, citing the blend of size, skill, and physicality both players bring.
“A guy that I’ve said for my player comp is Ryan Getzlaf,” McQueen told reporters. “Just to be able to gauge a skill game and a heavy game there, too.”
McQueen was originally selected fourth overall in the 2022 WHL Draft and has drawn comparisons to NHL players like Kirby Dach due to his stature and potential. His ability to skate well for his size, combined with high-end puck protection and competitive instincts, has made him a particularly intriguing pick in a deep 2025 class.
Draft analyst have praised McQueen’s play-driving ability and two-way presence.
“McQueen looked like a prospect with superstar upside in this viewing,” Daniel Gee of Elite Prospects said.
Mitchell Brown, also of Elite Prospects, described him as “far and away the best player on the ice” in his return.
The Ducks now add McQueen to a growing young core at center, joining Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. With a clean bill of health and a full offseason ahead, McQueen is expected to return to Brandon for the 2025–26 season, where he aims to take on a leadership role and push for a WHL title.
