The 2025 NHL Combine is now in the books. The future of the league spent this past week in Buffalo with the top NHL prospects going through physical tests in front of all 32 teams as well as meeting with top executives ahead of the upcoming draft.  

One player that needed a strong showing - Roger McQueen. The 18-year-old center is coming off of a lower back injury and was cleared to take part in all fitness testing. McQueen said his back feels fine and likened his game the one of the local teams' stars - Tage Thompson.

"Obviously being here in Buffalo, Tage Thompson is a guy that offensively is unbelievable and can create anything with his size and pace of play and I think his skill is top-notch," McQueen said. "I think a guy I've said for my player comp is Ryan Getzlaf, just kind of both the skill game and the heavy game too. So that's another guy I really want to play like. There are so many guys just being big in this league." 

"You know, again, to see friends and getting to meet new teams and getting to see people you met throughout the season and it's great to get to know and I met some GMs, but maybe not the rest of their staff, so seeing what their team is about and testing you on some things," top-ranked North American skater Matthew Schaefer said. "So it's pretty cool to be there with your friends and working hard, competing and all the testing."

"I feel I am ready to make that jump next year," Michael Misa, the second-ranked North American skater, said. "That's my goal, to make the NHL next year. I think gaining that center experience will help my game. Just try to become that more reliable 200-foot player defensively as well, so overall I am ready to make that next step."  

Next up for the NHL is the NHL Draft at the end of the month in Los Angeles.