Penguins Draft X-Factor: Roger McQueen Scouting & Highlight Reel

As the 2025 NHL Draft approaches, there is buzz about center Brady Martin who plays a scrappy, truculent game from the middle with good skating. Center Jake O’Brien has raced upward in the NHL Draft rankings, and a couple of other centers remain likely in the picks No. 7-15 range. Perhaps the biggest wildcard is the biggest center, Roger McQueen.

The 6-foot-6 center had to prove to teams that his back injury is healed. Fortunately, doctors discovered the injury was a small fracture, and he was able to heal fully without worry of lingering repercussions extending well into the future.

He is 100% healthy.

McQueen missed most of this season with the injury that was initially misdiagnosed, so there isn’t as much of a highlight reel for the center. However, McQueen’s body of work last season and his limited action this season only confirmed to detailed observers that he has legitimate top-six potential.

Because of his potential and somewhat thin resume, the Penguins took McQueen to dinner during the NHL Scouting Combine.

Because of his height and style, he draws plenty of comparisons to Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, though McQueen tossed another name into the mix at last weekend’s NHL Scouting Combine: Ryan Getzlaf.

McQueen likes the finesse game, but you’ll see he can move well, which allows him to take the edge on defensemen, especially in one-on-one battles. NHN’s Matt Meagher breaks down McQueen’s game, including the one drawback–that he sometimes glides instead of skating (which can be corrected).

You’ll also notice absolutely silky mitts.

As teams snap up centers in the first round, McQueen could go near the top five, or last to the Penguins at 11. Because he missed most of this season, eventually he scored 10 goals with 10 assists in 17 games, many teams had question marks near his name on their draft board. So, we don’t have a firm idea of where he will be picked in the round. If he’s picked earlier, he kicks another center down the list toward the Penguins, or if the others are selected, he becomes a potential heir apparent to Evgeni Malkin as the second-line center.