LOS ANGELES — Usually an athlete has to win the Super Bowl or the Stanley Cup title to exclaim “I’m going to Disneyland,” but for Ducks draft pick Roger McQueen, the wait was only about 15 minutes after turning pro.
The Ducks selected the lanky center (6-foot-5, 198 pounds) 10th overall in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday, making the Brandon Wheat Kings center the 11th forward in the Ducks’ past 14 selections and their third straight top pick up front.
McQueen headed to the Magic Kingdom with his entire contingent, with the Ducks taking the newest member of their flock from Downtown L.A. to Downtown Disney by helicopter.
“That’s awesome. I’ve got two younger sisters, too, that’ll love that. There are, I think, 30 of us, and there’ll be so many people that’ll love that and it’s awesome that they’re doing that,” McQueen said.
Among contemporary players, McQueen compared his game to that of Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, describing himself as a power forward with a two-way game and a nose for the net. Yet he said the player he closest resembled was one even more familiar to Ducks fans.
“I’ve always said Ryan Getzlaf for a player comp, so that’s pretty cool with him being such a veteran and all-time great here,” McQueen said.
McQueen might well have gone higher than 10th if not for back complications that cost him the bulk of his draft-year junior campaign. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, who had said the pick was potentially in play, seemed confident he got his man at No. 10.
“Roger is an extremely unique player with his combination of size, skating, vision and talent,” Verbeek said in a statement. “We are confident he brings a versatility in his game matched with raw skill that will translate to being a top player in the NHL. Roger had a difficult season with an injury but has matured through adversity and will be a better player and person for that. We are excited for Roger to join our organization and welcome him to Orange County.”
McQueen confirmed that he met Verbeek and cohorts at the scouting combine in Buffalo and that he had at least some idea that they might select him.
“We had a good talk there and I think we put ourselves on a good first step there,” McQueen said.
“They’re awesome guys. In talking to them, they’re top-notch,” he added. “I could tell they were super easy to talk to and were really good people. I was really hoping to go there. They were awesome, and it just worked out.”
McQueen’s ETA might be two or three years away, as is common with NHL prospects.
“The biggest thing is just growing into my body. I’m pretty tall, and built like the branches of a tree, not like the trunk,” McQueen said.
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has represented Canada internationally, including on a gold-medal run in 2024 at the U18 level.