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San Jose Sharks Select Goalie Joshua Ravensbergen in 2025 NHL Draft‘s First Round
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In a move that surprised many, the San Jose Sharks selected goaltender joshua Ravensbergen with their second pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Friday night. Ravensbergen, who played for the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, was a finalist for WHL Goaltender of the Year and was considered the top North American goalie prospect heading into the draft [1].While a first-round selection was anticipated, his landing with the Sharks was unexpected.
Joshua Ravensbergen: Prince George Cougars Standout
Joshua ravensbergen’s profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 6-foot-5 |
| Weight | 192 pounds |
| Age/DOB | 18, Nov. 27, 2006 |
| Catches | Right |
| Prince George Cougars (WHL) | 33-13-3-1, 3.00 GAA, 0.901 sv% |
| prince George Cougars (WHL Playoffs) | 2-3-1-0, 3.60 GAA, 0.896 sv% |
The selection of ravensbergen at No. 30 overall underscores the Sharks’ belief in his potential. Goaltenders are notoriously tough to evaluate at 18, making first-round selections rare. Pyotr Andreyanov was the only other goalie selected in the first round,going 20th overall to the columbus Blue Jackets.
Did You Know? The last time the San Jose Sharks drafted a goalie in the first round was in 2012 when they selected Tomas Hertl. Hertl has since become a cornerstone player for the team.
Director of Amateur Scouting Chris Morehouse emphasized Ravensbergen’s potential during a post-draft call. “I think when you saw what the potential of what could be there. I think you have a young kid that’s looking for guidance,he’s looking for coaching,he’s looking for help,” Morehouse said.
Morehouse continued, “I think in terms of the athletic and the raw ability, he has the right mindset to work on those tools and get better. So it’s really exciting with that wingspan, with that lateral mobility and that size to go along with a kid that really wants it. And I think he wasn’t drafted in the Western League, he’s kind of been always second-guessed and doubted.And that’s also another thing I think he has going in his favor.”
Scout’s Take on Ravensbergen
According to NHL.com, Ravensbergen “checks every box” scouts look for in a goaltending prospect.chris Peters of FloHockey believes the Sharks secured excellent value, considering the draft’s depth. Peters noted,”Ravensbergen is the consensus top goalie for this year’s draft and has all of the physical tools.”
Pro Tip: Goaltender development is a marathon, not a sprint. Sharks fans should be patient and allow Ravensbergen the time he needs to hone his skills.
peters also wrote, “In deeper draft years, we wouldn’t be talking about him as a first-round goalie, mainly because the track record is a bit inconsistent. His numbers were not great this year and trended down from a season ago, which does concern me some. that said, Ravensbergen has a calm demeanor in net, shows good athleticism and is close to 6-foot-5, giving him the size teams covet. When you get to this range of the first round and you’re debating between a forward that might be middle- or bottom-six, or a defenseman who is a top-four longshot, why not take a chance on the player that may have a No. 1 goalie ceiling? That’s the argument teams will make, and I’d bet Ravensbergen is off the board even before this point in the draft.”
Corey Pronman of The Athletic also ranked Ravensbergen as the draft’s top goaltending prospect. “His numbers are average,but his toolkit is going to be highly desirable to NHL teams,and he was still one of the better goalies in the WHL. He’s 6-foot-5. He’s very athletic with the quick-twitch in his lower half of a 6-foot-1 goaltender,” pronman wrote. “He anticipates the play well and is quite aggressive in challenging shooters with his big frame. He can be a bit over-aggressive and chaotic in net, bouncing/flopping around too much. his reads do concern me at times, but for the most part, he’s in the right place.”
What’s Next for the Sharks’ New Goalie?
Ravensbergen’s raw talent means he’ll require time to refine his skills. He is expected to return to the Prince George Cougars in the WHL,where he will likely continue in a starting role. He is also a strong contender to play for Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship, providing Sharks fans with an prospect to assess his performance against international competition [3].
While Yaroslav askarov is currently the Sharks’ projected starting goalie, having a succession plan in place is a smart move for the organization.
The Evolution of NHL Goaltending Draft Strategies
Drafting goalies in the first round has always been a high-risk, high-reward proposition in the NHL. Historically, teams have been hesitant to use early picks on goaltenders due to the unpredictable nature of their development. However, in recent years, as the importance of elite goaltending has become increasingly evident, some teams have been
