Roland McKeown

July 2022 – The Predators have signed McKeown to two-year, two-way contract at an AAV of $762,500. He will replace some of the lost depth in Milwaukee. Curtis Rines

February 2022 – Any hope fantasy owners had of McKeown getting a shot with the Avs should be gone by now. The reliable AHLer has had a fine first season with the Eagles (10 points in 34 contests so far while playing regularly in the top-four), but no aspect of his game is quite strong enough for NHL consideration. The Avs have suffered multiple injuries on the back end and he has yet to receive any auditions, and it is hard to imagine that happening later on thanks to the strong seasons of some of his peers in the minors. Hayden Soboleski

October 2021 – McKeown has cleared waivers and been assigned to the AHL Eagles for 2021-22. Hayden Soboleski

July 2021 – The Avalanche have signed McKeown to a one-year contract. He currently sits approximately 8th or 9th on the depth chart so NHL time is not likely but not impossible. Given that he hasn’t seen NHL time since 2018, its safest to assume this signing is to solidify the AHL Eagles’ back end, but at 25 there still room for development into a depth NHLer if all goes well. Do not draft until injuries start bringing him closer to a call-up. Hayden Soboleski

March 2020 – McKeown will not ever put up a lot of points, that is not really his style. He has seen time in Raleigh for the Canes in the past (in short stints) because of how reliable he is defensively. Not too certain he will ever consistently find time at the top level given how deep the Hurricanes blue line group is and how ownership seems to always want to go out and grab new players to keep the depth (Skjei, Vatanen most recently), but there is an outside chance McKeown could end up as a player down the road who could be a bottom pairing defenseman. Jack LeGwin

May 2019 – Although the stats don’t necessarily pop off the page McKeown is arguably the Charlotte Checkers most consistent defenseman. The former second round selection posted his highest point total of his young career with 25 this season, but it’s his cerebral, level headed approach that will guide him to a permanent spot on an NHL blueline. He’s the perfect bottom-four option who is earning a reputation for being able to be trusted in all situations.  Although he has struggled through a late season lower-body injury and has not been able to participate in the run to the Calder Cup that the team has been on,it is not something that should effect him going into camp next year. McKeown is also an RFA going into next season, but unless he’s used as trade bait this summer, he should be in the mix as an option to start the season on the NHL roster, barring Calvin de Haan and Trevor van Riemsdyk’s availability after surgery this offseason.  Kevin LeBlanc

July 2017 – McKeown’s first professional season was successful, playing in 71 games for the Checkers after being on the NHL roster for a handful of games to start the 2016-17 season as depth for Carolina’s lengthy road trip. The right sided defender’s shot generation was solid, finishing third among Checkers defensemen in shots with 125 and a shot-per-game rate of 1.76. McKeown may be higher on the depth chart due to the fact that he is a right handed shot, with only Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce and Trevor van Riemsdyk in front of him after the trade of Ryan Murphy this offseason. Given Carolina’s defensive depth he has time to stay in Charlotte to develop, but could be called in as an injury replacement if needed.  Kevin LeBlanc

October 2016 – This summer, McKeown took a huge step forward toward being a viable NHL player sooner rather than later. When Haydn Fleury went down with a freak injury in the Traverse City prospect tournment, McKeown stepped up playing huge minutes in all situations. He has made the Hurricanes roster to start the season, but may not play any games on their six-game roadtrip before being sent to Charlotte where he will likely develop this year.  Kevin LeBlanc

December 2015 – McKeown was named to Canada’s 30-man preliminary roster for the 2016 World Junior Championships in Finland. He was one of eleven defensemen selected who will likely battle for seven spots.  Kevin LeBlanc

November 2015 – Last season’s trade to Carolina from the Los Angeles organization made for rocky season for the young defenseman. However, it appears the Kingston captain is settling back in in 2015-16. The Frontenacs captain is breaking out offensively in a big way this season with 20 points in his first 20 games. With his three previous season having point outputs of 29, 43, and 32, its safe to say he’s on pace for a career year. McKeown has an outside shot of being on Canada’s WJC roster if his play continues at this level.  Kevin LeBlanc

February 2015 – The Los Angeles Kings have traded Roland McKeown (along with their 2015 1st round selection) to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Andrej Sekera. Playing on a goal-starved Kingston Frontenacs team (missing top players Sam Bennett and Spencer Watson for significant time), Roland McKeown hasn’t had the offensive breakout that many expected but his four goals and 24 points through 54 games isn’t terrible either given his team has scored only 149 times (2nd worst in the OHL). He remains a promising puck-moving defenseman who exhibits impressive mobilty but his progression may be longer than initially expected. Look for McKeown to stay at least one more season (likely two) in the OHL before moving onto the pro ranks.  Brendan Ross

October 2014 – Kingston defenceman Roland McKeown has been named to the OHL’s roster for the upcoming Subway® Super Series and will compete in both games on November 13^th and 17^th in Peterborough and Kingston, respectively. Brendan Ross

June 2014 – The Los Angeles Kings selected defenseman Roland McKeown 50th overall at the 2014 NHL Draft. Brendan Ross

January 2014 – Kingston Frontenacs’ defenseman Roland McKeown was named as an Alternate Captain of Team Cherry for the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game scheduled for January 15th. Brendan Ross

August 2013 –Roland McKeown enters the 2014 NHL Entry Draft as a top OHL defenseman and he owns the accolades to back it up.  With an U18 WJC Gold, Ivan Hlinka Gold and a member of the OHL First All-Rookie Team after scoring seven goals and 29 points for Kingston, Roland McKeown should be on every team’s must-get list. Blessed with outstanding skating skills that feature four-way mobility and top-end acceleration and speed, McKeown is a true puck-rushing defenseman. He executes crisp outlet passes but prefers to lead the rush with the puck on his stick. Defensively, McKeown is a smart defender who employs strong positioning and good instincts. On an up-and-coming Kingston Frontenacs team, Roland McKeown is the key piece of its defensive core and will be highly sought after in the 2014 NHL Draft. Brendan Ross