After taking Michael Misa 2nd overall, the Sharks took a swing for the fences with their 2nd first-round pick, selecting Goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen with the 30th overall pick.
The 6’5 goaltender was widely expected to go in the late-first or early second, and is not a reach for the Sharks at 30. However, it is a surprise I wouldn't have pegged Ravensbergen to the Sharks in round 1, considering the presence of Askarov in the crease. But you can never have enough top goalie prospects in the system.
According to Elite Prospects 2025 draft guide, “An imposing 6-foot-5 goalie who moves well and has elite play reading, Ravensbergen doesn’t have to look flashy because he’s always in the right position. He challenges shooters appropriately, which can lead to situations where he simply engulfs the entire net because of his size.”
Ravesbergen may not have had the best season this past year in the WHL with just a 901 save percentage in 51 games for Prince George', but he has unteachable traits with his size and athleticism. Down the road, Ravensbergen could form a tandem with Askarov that could be the backbone of future Sharks teams, similar to when the Sharks had in the past with Nabokov, Kiprusoff, and Toskala. And with the unpredictability of goaltending, it never hurts to have multiple options for the future.
Many, including myself, would have expected the Sharks to go D here, but with multiple options still on the board and another pick at 33, it’s not a desperate situation if they like Ravensbergen at this pick.
Finishing day one of the draft, the Sharks exit day one with tons of upside between a potential star in Misa at 2 and a high-upside goaltender at 30 in Ravensbergen, some good work from Grier and the scouting staff. They will need to dip into the D pool on day 2, however, as they still lack upside on the backend outside of Dickinson.