Roger McQueen is a tool box loaded with skils and tools, including nimble skating prowess and the abilty to beat teams in a multitude of ways. Has a great set of hands, and a quick release. He needs to get much thicker and stronger and improve his advantage but he already checks off so many boxes that say he will succeed as an eventual pro forward; he beats goalies from a distance, and handles the puck and possession in high traffic areas. He hold pucks tight to his body and walks around defenders with ease. His mobility is displayed with many a dynamic rush, reading and adjusting before he follows through to his option. He is at his best down in the cycle. A high end playmaker, and very physical, dislodging and taking pucks, quickly distributing and then carshing the front. He currently is not close to ready to step in against pros where his size would be neutralized by simply knocking him around. When he is physically ready, he looks to pose a continual problem for defending teams to contend with. His season was marred by a bulging disc back injury/ stress fracture, forcing him to miss extended time during the regular season. upon his return, he suffered another setback during the playoffs. He has great vision and willingness to occupy danger zones and high danger scoring areas, and has good physicality in doing so. He reads the ice well, adapts and finds the open gaps Has a little pace to his game, is a fine stickhandler who can release quick shots very quickly. Once the strong stable of centres are selected is when a team takes a shot by calling his name at the mike, as he is still in that tail end of top elite centre s who haven’t had any serious injuries, he still belongs in that top tier, with a much higher possible upside than the centres (and forwards) that will be taken after that top 8-9 group. I am anxious to see which teams GM & scouting staff fearless make him their selection, knowing it may later affect their employ if he turns out a kid who is able to get healthy, and continue adding physicality and have the option to evolve into a power wing, if centre doesn’t work for him.
–Bill Placzek–
