Why Joshua Ravensbergen Is the NHL Draft’s top goalie prospect

Joshua Ravensbergen is unanimously regarded as the best goaltender available at the 2025 NHL Draft, and the 18-year-old netminder has surely earned that recognition. He looms large standing at 6'5" but his talent is obvious in every aspect of his game.

Physically, his large frame allows him to be down in the butterfly position and still have the reach and strength to move laterally as well as effectively use the glove, which he wears on his right side unlike many NHL goaltenders. But it's not just about being tall; it matters even more so that Ravensbergen knows how to use his size to his advantage.

Ravensbergen has all of the natural instincts a team looks for: sharp puck tracking, poise when skaters are crashing the net, and calculated decision-making. He is described as having a calm demeanor under pressure, never scrambling to make a save.

"For all the years I've been doing this, it seems like the top goalies just stand out," NHL Central Scouting's Al Jensen told NHL.com. "He's got a great NHL presence. He's very calm, very poised, he covers the net really well whether he's in his initial stance or when he goes down into the butterfly. He's got a great butterfly, great leg extension. Tough to beat down low, but he's got good gloves as well."

Ravensbergen did not have the typical journey to get to the WHL -- in fact, he was not selected by any team in his first year of eligibility at the WHL Draft in 2021. But when the Price George Cougars decided to pursue him as a free agent, he immediately made an impact in the crease.

In his rookie year in 2023-24, Ravensbergen led the WHL with six shutouts and recorded the fourth-best goals against average with a 2.46 GAA. He locked in even more for the playoffs with a 1.98 GAA, .931 SV%, and even blanked his opponents three times in just twelve games. This past season, Ravensbergen posted a 33-13-4 record along with a 3.00 GAA and .901 SV%.

Elite Prospects has described that he "doesn’t have to look flashy because he’s always in the right position," and that is something Ravensbergen had to work hard in order to improve from his rookie WHL campaign to this year.

"Last year, I'd come out really far in the rush, and this year, it's kind of managing my crease better, and letting the play develop and come to me," he said to Mike Morreale. "That's what I'm focused on."

Goalies have had a tough time in recent NHL Draft history -- the last three first-round picks dating back to 2020 (Yaroslav Askarov, Jesper Wallstedt, and Sebastian Cossa) have combined for just seven NHL appearances so far. But netminders typically have a slightly slower development schedule compared to the skaters in front of them, so don't be alarmed if Ravensbergen needs some more time before jumping into NHL action.

Ravensbergen has said he puts great emphasis in his offseason training, so expect him to grind out some intense workouts this summer in preparation for 2025-26. His work ethic, composition under pressure, and strong technical abilities are making scouts very optimistic about his future in the NHL.

"There's just a lot of NHL potential in him. You can see it almost immediately with him. And the more you watch him, he's strong. He's going to have a chance to be an NHL starter someday if he continues on his progress that he's gone on."

Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting