The 2025 NHL Draft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater is almost here. The first round will be held on June 27 (7 p.m. ET), with Rounds 2-7 on June 28 (noon ET). The Nashville Predators are one of those teams looking to take advantage of the draft to the fullest, and for good reason, with them finishing 30-44-8. But with a clear need for center, which prospect could and will they take with their No. 5 overall pick?
According to The Athletic’s insider Corey Pronman, youngsters Caleb Desnoyers and Roger McQueen are both projected to go inside the top 10 and could be taken by the Predators. Who would be the better fit, and who does Pronman project for the Predators?
Who Is Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats?
At just 18 years old, center Desnoyers already has some hardware to show for his talent. He earned junior hockey gold at both the U17 (2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge) and U18 (2024 IIHF U18 World Championship) levels, a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League championship with the Moncton Wildcats, and the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the MVP of the QMJHL playoffs.
Caleb Desnoyers wins the Guy Lafleur Trophy as QMJHL Playoff MVP! 🏆🔥 pic.twitter.com/kBGp8X3wgg
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 19, 2025
In his second season with the Wildcats this year, Desnoyers posted 35 goals and 49 assists in just 56 games. He followed that up with 30 points in 19 playoff games en route to the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champions.
He’s the kind of player who has a bit of everything on display, including, but not limited to, transition skill, cross-ice passing, a strong net-front game, and a high hockey IQ.
Who Is Roger McQueen of the Brandon Wheat Kings?
On the other hand, McQueen is a big, 6’5″ center who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.
“He’s a 6-foot-5 player with really quick hands. The ability to get the puck from one side of his body to the other, and using his length, is quite fascinating to sit back and watch, to be honest,” said Marty Murray, McQueen’s coach with the Wheat Kings of the WHL, according to The Inquirer.
You don’t see many players this size who can move with power, handle the puck, & read the game like Roger McQueen. He’s a unique blend of reach, skill, IQ and already has an NHL caliber shot. Excited to watch his journey & see what team lands him #NHLDraft #WHL @bdnwheatkings pic.twitter.com/jYFIvPmvoA
— Riley Dudar (@RileyDudar) June 20, 2025
McQueen, previously linked to Nashville, was the one to watch at the NHL Scouting Combine. Notwithstanding his injury history, McQueen was among the top 25 finishers in one of the tests, finishing eighth in the horizontal jump at 112.8 inches. He also had a 20.7-inch vertical jump, did nine pull-ups, and completed the pro agility 20-yard shuttle run in 4.50 seconds starting to his left and 4.49 seconds starting to his right.
He was out for almost five months before returning on March 4 due to a lower back fracture.
Clearly, both of these prospects boast impressive résumés and will be taken off the board early. However, insider Pronman’s key fact is that Desnoyers will likely be taken as the Predators’ center of choice.
