Joshua Ravensbergen is one of the newer names to pop up in the Sharks’ system, and he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on. San Jose picked him up in the 2025 draft, snagging him in round one, 30th overall. He’s a goalie, which means it’ll take some time before we see him anywhere near the NHL, but the foundation is there. Last year, he spent the season in junior hockey, showing flashes of calm, steady play that got scouts talking. As a new draftee, this is his first time on our Top 25 Under 25 list, so yeah, he’s very much a newcomer here.
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 192 pounds
Age: 18
Date of Birth: Nov. 27, 2006
Draft Year: 2025 (Drafted 30th overall by the San Jose Sharks)
Catches: Right
2025-26 Team: Prince George Cougars (WHL)
What we like
The first thing you notice about Ravensbergen is his size. At 6’5”, he’s got that big modern goalie frame that eats up a ton of the net. That alone makes shooters think twice, but it’s not just the size; he actually uses it well. He’s not the type to flail around or make crazy desperation saves all the time. Instead, he stays pretty composed, relies on his positioning and just looks calm even when the play is breaking down in front of him.
That patience is another huge plus. For a young goalie, it’s easy to get caught sliding around too much or overreacting, but Ravensbergen doesn’t seem to do that as often. He plays a more controlled, technical style, and that’s encouraging because it’s a sign of maturity in his game. It makes him look a lot more polished than you’d expect from an 18-year-old.
Nobody’s expecting him to turn into a franchise goalie right away, but that’s what makes prospects like him exciting. If he puts it all together, he could be one of those “hidden gem” stories down the line. The Sharks don’t need to rush him, and that gives him the time to work on the details while already having some legit tools in place.
Areas of improvement
Of course, Ravensbergen is far from a finished product. One big thing that he’ll need to work on is his athleticism. He can look a little stiff at times, especially when he’s trying to track rebounds or deal with second and third chances. At higher levels, players are going to exploit that, so getting quicker side-to-side is going to be key.
Rebound control is another issue. Like most young goalies, he can cough up some dangerous second opportunities right in front. That’s the kind of thing that gets punished badly in pro hockey, so learning how to either smother the puck or kick it to safe areas is going to be huge for him.
And finally, there’s the consistency factor. Some nights he looks locked in, and other nights you can tell he’s still figuring it out. That’s normal for a teenager, but it’s also something he’s going to have to work through. The mental side of goaltending is massive. Shaking off a bad goal and not letting one mistake snowball is something that will come with more reps and experience.
What’s next for Ravensbergen?
For this upcoming season, the plan is probably pretty simple: keep developing. He’ll return to his team in the WHL, the Prince George Cougars. That will give him plenty of playing time against solid competition. The Sharks aren’t going to rush him, so the focus is just on letting him play a lot and improve steadily. Look for him to potentially make an appearance on Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in January, which will be a good test for Ravensbergen against the best young players in the world.
Beyond that, it’s a bit of a wait-and-see. If he keeps progressing, he could end up with the Barracuda in the AHL in a few years and start climbing the ladder toward the NHL. If things don’t click, he’s still a low-risk pick that the Sharks took a swing on. But if things do click, he’s got the size, the poise, and the potential to be one of those sneaky good finds from the 2024 draft.
Highlights
He scrambles sometimes, and that is normal. But, with more development and more composure (than he already has), he can be a key piece in the Sharks’ future.
Previous Top 25 Under 25 Posts
14. Kasper Halttunen
15. Eric Pohlkamp
16. Cam Lund
17. Ethan Cardwell
18. Haoxi Wang
19. Leo Sahlin Wallenius
20. Jack Thompson
21. Cole McKinney
22. Zack Ostapchuk
23. Mattias Havelid
24. Egor Afanasyev
25. Carson Wetsch
Honorable Mentions: Joey Muldowney, Jake Furlong, Brandon Svoboda, Nate Misskey, Gabriel Carriere
