Montreal Canadiens fans wish the team will contend for a playoff spot this year. However, the early predictions say they are still two years away from being up there with those teams. If that's the case, the Canadiens could look at Roger McQueen next season. James Hagens is the top prospect for next year's draft, but Canadiens fans hope they won't be drafting in the top five next season. A bottom-five finish for the Canadiens would mean there was no growth in the Canadiens' game, which they'll take over being one of the worst teams in the league. A solid crop of prospects awaits the Canadiens, so we'll be looking at possible first-round prospects for Canadiens fans to monitor during this upcoming season. Fans can watch Roger McQueen with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2024-25.
Roger McQueen is on pace to have a dominating season in the WHL in 2024-25. The massive forward had 51 points in 53 games last season while averaging 17:31 of ice time. With another year of growth, McQueen could put himself into contention to be one of the top picks in the draft. McQueen would be a good selection for a team that is a few pieces away from contending, as his frame and the way he uses it could see him make an early entrance into the NHL.
There are some concerns about McQueen's skating abilities, but there will always be a place in the league for players like him. McQueen has some physicality to his game, but he won't make it to the NHL and become Matt Rempe. He has an impressive ability to control pucks in tight and is a force around the net. The good thing about skating being a concern is that it's a fixable skill. Some players don't have as good hockey sense or don't have the hand-eye to have good puck control, but McQueen's skating improved this past season and could be even better in 2024-25.
Montreal Canadiens Fit
The Canadiens didn't get to decide between Cayden Lindstrom and Ivan Demidov in the 2024 NHL Draft. Most pundits believed they were the two forwards the Canadiens were targeting with the fifth pick, but Lindstrom went to the Blue Jackets at four. Montreal may feel it's okay to miss out on Lindstrom since they could get a similar player in McQueen.
The irony could come next season if the Canadiens are in a position where they have to decide between McQueen and Ivan Ryabkin, as they are almost exact comparables to Lindstrom and Demidov.