…and if he does, should we draft him?
You see, Roger McQueen, a towering 6’5”, right-shot center, is pretty much the total package. In addition to being blessed with size and a Pterodactyl wing span, the 18-year-old pivot skates well for a big man, possesses silky hands and flashes elite skill. Plays with an edge, too.
Sounds vaguely reminiscent of another long, gifted, right-handed shooting center who skated for us back in the day and wore No. 66. Right down to, unfortunately, a wonky back.
Therein lies the reason the Brandon Wheat Kings’ standout might still be available when it’s the Pens’ turn to pick 11th overall.
Most, including McQueen, describe the ailment as spondylolysis, or a stress fracture in one of his vertebrae. There are whispers that in reality it’s a bulging disc. Again, shades of Mario.
The malady limited McQueen to just 17 games during the WHL regular season and three more in the playoffs. While he was certainly productive (11 goals, 21 points combined), the injury has cast a huge shadow over his future.
To rewind, if not for the back injury, the Saskatoon native was generally regarded as a consensus top-five pick. Some scouts had McQueen rated as high as first overall. Nearly all agreed he had/has first-line potential written all over him.
But now?
So many caution and warning lights.
Back in 2017, when he was Philly’s GM, Ron Hextall ignored the checkered health history of another Brandon standout and took Nolan Patrick second overall. Following two modestly successful NHL seasons, Patrick developed a migraine disorder and missed the entire ’19-20 campaign.
His career already on the wane at age 23, Patrick was dealt to Nashville, who in turn flipped him to Vegas for future Pen Cody Glass. The migraines persisted and Patrick was compelled to retire, a tragic, cautionary tale of a promising career cut short.
Closer to home, then-Pens GM Ray Shero selected Beau Bennett 20th overall in 2010, again ignoring warning signs. The injury-prone forward’s full name might well have been “Brittle” Beau Bennett or “Glass Beau” after a Mike Tyson patsy from the old Nintendo Punch-Out!! arcade game.
Indeed, Bennett once famously and incredibly injured himself while celebrating a goal.
On the flip side, back in 1969 every team (including the Pens) bypassed a gritty Flin Flon Bomber scoring ace because he was diabetic. Two slots after we selected Rick Kessell (four career goals), the Flyers took gap-toothed center Robert Earle “Bobby” Clarke. The linchpin of the infamous Broad Street Bullies, Clarke battled his way to a Hall-of-Fame career and captained the Flyers to back-to-back Cups.
The Rangers’ Rod Gilbert submitted to risky spinal fusion surgery (twice) and likewise entered the Hall of Fame. Another former Ranger (and Penguin) Hall of Famer, Andy Bathgate, skated almost his entire pro career with a steel plate inserted in his left knee.
When it comes to injuries, you truly never know.
Which brings me full circle to McQueen.
So much potential. So much risk.
Boon or bust.
I’ll stop short of offering my opinion on what Kyle Dubas & Co. should do if McQueen is available when it’s our turn to pick. I truly don’t know.
Needless to say, it’ll take the brass of a riverboat gambler to the roll the dice on the kid…and significant input from the medical staff.
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View Comments
Rick
Great choice - I know we both want some size. I don't see us getting
McQueen unless we're able to move up.
My Top Three:
Porter Martone. 6-3 208 RW
I watched a few small clips - I don't have a handle on his overall
game but he has size, physical on the boards and likes to drive to
the crease. Good skater with a great release "very quick" - This kid
should be an offensive weapon.
Roger McQueen. 6-5 208 C
Good use of his size & strength - might be the front net presence
we've been looking for - excellent redirecting shots - tough to move
him off the puck - very good vision and feel. His back may be an
issue, missed most of the season but came back to play well down
the stretch.
Radim Mrtka. 6-6 207 RD
Love his size - Right handed Defenseman - Well rounded - solid both
offensively and defensively - blocks a lot of shots. He's still adjusting
to the small ice surface, and may need a little seasoning.
Top Sleepers:
Jack Nesbitt. 6-4 185 C
Kashawn Aitcheson. 6-2 196 D
Jake O'Brien 6-2 172 C
Hey Rick and Mike,
I do love Martone and McQueen but do not see either coming to Pgh. Also
In McQueen’s case, although I may roll the dice on this guy but his lack of playing time last season does make me nervous. His sample size is small.
For Martone, there is a lot to like, what I don’t like about him is that in the games I watched he didn’t really use his linemates well. He tended to hold on to the puck too long and lost control of it; that wouldn’t dissuade me from drafting him. I would just caution Pens fans that it may take him a season or two for him to mature.
At the beginning of this season, I was a big fan of Mrtka but after watching him play several games, he lost his luster in my eyes. I do love his size, 6-6, 207 but watching him in several games I would wait until later in the first round or second or third round to take a flier. He seems slow to react, doesn’t have that great of a shot and seemed to get caught out of position at times in the D-zone. I wouldn’t mind having him, I just wouldn’t spend a top 20 pick on him.
I like Jackson Smith a LHD who isn’t as large as Mrtka, “only” 6-3, 190, but he moves better, has better vision, and seems to stay ahead of the play. As pathetic as our LHD were last season, he could be a great addition, possibly a partner for Brunicke on the first pairing somewhere down the line.
Another player I like is Bill Zonnon. He is a 6-2, 190 LW who just may turn into one of the top power forwards in the next couple of seasons. He never fails to finish a check, often crushing opposing D, he back checks well, has good senses in the O-Zone and a much better shot than Rick’s brawler Brady Martin. Right now, on tankathon he is rated at 27th. I would consider looking to trade down in the draft to pick up a prospect or more draft capital.
In the 2nd round, I am looking at Pyotr Andreyanov, another promising young Goalie (6-2, 207), Daniil Prokhorov a 6-6 209lb, RW, and Matthew Gard a 6-4, 192lb F right now. With Andreyanov, I know we have 3 young Goalies I am high on, Blomqvist, Murashov and Gauthier, but we will not be able to keep all three, particularly if they all develop, so it is never to early to start looking for another great Goalie. Also, with Goalies you never know when they will lose their edge.
In the 3rd round, our Pens have 2 picks (84 and 85). The players I am looking at here are, Semyon Frolov, another G (6-3, 203lbs), Mace’o Phillips LHD (6-6 227)
A couple of quick quotes I read on Phillips are,
“Phillips isn’t just big—he skates like a player six inches shorter. His first few steps allow him to close quickly on puck carriers, and his edgework below the dots allows him to contain shifty forwards. He maintains a wide, low stance and plays with a controlled intensity that rarely sees him off-balance. These tools are critical for defending today’s east-west offenses.” – Neutral Zone
“Mace’o Phillips has NHL traits that are difficult to find: size, athleticism, mobility, and physicality. He’s not just big—he’s powerful, coordinated, and competitive. His ability to defend the rush, clear his net, and engage physically makes him a rare breed in today’s NHL prospect landscape.” – Neutral Zone
Hey Mike,
You did a way better draft preview than I could ever do. Thank you, my friend... :)
I'd love to have Martone, too, and he's slipped a bit in the rankings. Unfortunately, he'll likely be long gone by the time we pick. If I'm not mistake, Other Rick is high on Mrtka as well.
I still think Brady Martin might be available and a nice pick for our Pens. Anyone who draws comparisons to Sam Bennett would be just fine by me.
In my caution and warning flags section, if I'm not mistaken back injuries contributed to the premature ending of Roger Belanger's and Mike Meeker's careers. Belanger, a hard-hitting forward, was taken by the Pens in the first round (16th overall) the same year we drafted Mario. Meeker, son of Canadian hockey legend Howie Meeker, was taken 25th overall in 1978.
Rick