Two-Pack of NHL Draft Prospects

The 2024 hockey season has started and is in full swing, so you know what that means? The 2025 NHL draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NHL teams.

Here is a pair of draft eligible players who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NHL draft.

Center- Roger McQueen, Brandon (WHL)

• 6-foot-5 190 lbs
• 2024 stats: 8 games- 8 goals 3 assists 11 points

Roger McQueen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. During the 2022-2023 season, McQueen recorded four goals and 10 assists in 55 regular season games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. Things started clicking in year two for McQueen. The 6-foot-5 center recorded 21 goals and 30 assists in 53 regular season games. He missed the final month of the regular season to a back injury and returned for the playoffs where he led the team in scoring and recorded four goals and one assist in four playoff games.

During international play, McQueen recorded four goals and three assists in five games during the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping Canada win the gold medal. Canada won the gold medal again in the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships, and during the tournament McQueen recorded one assist in two games, before missing the remainder of the tournament due to injury.

What to like about Roger McQueen

Roger McQueen uses his 6-foot-5 frame to dominate in board battles and plays a physical 200-foot game. He has a pro-caliber shot with impressive power, accuracy, and a lightning fast release. He has shown that he can score anywhere in the offensive zone and has elite hand-eye coordination allowing him to set up in front of the net and deflect shots. McQueen is strong on the puck, using his long reach to keep the puck safe and secure when skating through the zone. He plays a smart game and has extraordinary vision which allows him to make plays that others can't see. 

Reason for concern

On the downside, McQueen is not a bad skater, but his mechanics need to be improved to get the most out of his long strides. He does not reach top speed as quickly as other prospects, but can improve with the right coaching. McQueen lacks consistency from shift to shift and looks fatigued or disinterested at times. When he does,, he has a habit of taking unnecessary penalties and can lose his focus when things start to go south. Although McQueen plays with physicality in the defensive end, he needs to play better positionally in the slot.

Player Comparison

Kirby Dach

Roger McQueen looks like a spitting image to Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens. Dach was the third pick of the 2019 NHL draft by the Chicago Black Hawks, but has struggled with his transition to the NHL game. Draft Nation feels that McQueen has more upside then what Dach has shown so far, but will need to improve skating and stamina to become a solid top-6 forward. 

Draft Projection

Top-10 pick

Defenseman Logan Hensler, University of Wisconsin

• 6-foot-2 197 lbs
• 2024 stats: 11 games- 0 goals 4 assists 4 points

Logan Hensler was born in Woodbury, Minnesota and attended Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School in Minnesota, where he played football and ice hockey. He was named a finalist for the Wiz Wyatt Award in 2020. He then attended Hill-Murray School and recorded seven goals and 17 assists in 31 games during the 2021-2022 season. Hensler played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 2022-2023 season, where he recorded five goals and 23 assists in 60 games with the under-17 team. He also played in the USHL that season and recorded five goals and 15 assists in 38 games. 

During the 2023-2024 season, he recorded four goals and 28 assists in 61 games with the under-18 team, and three goals and 13 assists in 27 games for the NTDP in the USHL. On August 15, 2023, Hensler verbally committed to play hockey at the University of Wisconsin. 

Hensler represented the United States at the 2024 World U18 Championships where he recorded one goal and five assists in seven games and won a silver medal.

What to like about Logan Hensler

Logan Hensler is a strong and smooth skater and does an effective job of taking space away from opponents when receiving passes. The 6-foot-2 defenseman uses his stick well with his reach to disrupt passing lanes. The Badger defenseman is one of the best two-way defenseman in the class and understands the right time to jump up on a play. His vision is outstanding at the point and he does a stellar job of passing when it looks like he is about to shoot. Hensler is creative with the puck and knows when to shoot or wrap the puck around the boards. 

Reason for concern

Hensler needs to take advantage of his 6-foot-2 frame and play more aggressively down low. On occasion, he allows opponents to post up in front of his net and needs to be stronger at moving them out. 

On offense, his creativity is a positive but can also be a trouble spot. He has a habit of holding the puck too long and not just making the easy outlet play. When playing against better talent in international play, Hensler had some problems with pressure and needs to trust his skating. This will be something that scouts will be watching closely at Wisconsin this season.  

Player Comparison

Charlie McAvoy

Logan Hensler's style reminds Draft Nation of Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy is a steady two-way defenseman who continually improves his offensive production. Hensler is two inches taller than McAvoy, so DN believes if he can keep growing his physicality, he may have a higher ceiling than the Bruins d-man. 

Draft Projection

Top-15 pick