Get to Know Ducks No. 10 Pick: Roger McQueen
With the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Anaheim Ducks selected Roger McQueen, a winger from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The 18-year-old McQueen last played with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Ontario Hockey League, where he recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 17 games played. The 6-foot-6, 198 pound winger suffered a back injury that kept him out for most of the Wheat Kings’ season.
McQueen on stage with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the 2025 NHL Draft. (Photo by Kirby Lee)
When asked in an interview about overcoming his injury, McQueen “had a lot of free time to work on the other side of my game, the mental side, which is arguably more important than the other side.”
He has said many times in interviews that he cares about polishing his game so that he can be the best player he possibly can.
In the same interview, when asked what parts of his game he takes pride in, McQueen said “I like to be able to play physical and play with skill and try to find the happy medium in that.”
McQueen has been described in scouting reports as a heavy-hitting, physical puck handler. He has a natural passing instinct and can affect every part of the game in the offensive-zone.
He was described on draft night by the panel of analysts as giving them “a little bit more bite,” and as a player “that’s gonna make an impact.”
In a post-draft interview, McQueen told reporters that he is already familiar with some of the Ducks system players, including Tarin Smith and Beckett Sennecke.
McQueen often compares himself to Ducks legend Ryan Getzlaf, and says he would love to play like Tage Thompson and Brady Tkachuk in the league.
McQueen claims he admires and looks up to former Duck Ryan Getzlaf, shown here in his final NHL game (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez | USA Today)
For some fun information, McQueen reportedly loves to play cards, hang with friends and play pickup basketball and pickleball. Roger’s father helped instill the love of hockey in him, building a pond in their backyard where he would spend time on skates. McQueen also loves artists like Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Demi Lovato, and recognizes the irony of him getting drafted to Anaheim, a team with Disney roots.
References
EliteProspects.com
Youtube.com. NHL Scouting Combine | Roger McQueen - 03.06.25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdcxzFIOUw and Roger McQueen speaks to the media after being drafted 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZF4Kl6tsK4 and Roger McQueen Full Interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxUjheW3XH0
