G Joshua Ravensbergen - Prince George Cougars, WHL (2025 Draft)

[Juxtaposer]

Wouldn't be surprised if it's SJ. 1/3 of their 2024 draft picks are from North Vancouver, where Ravensbergen is also from. They don't really have their goalie of the future yet, so why not? Could use Vegas' first. We'll see what happens.

I could see us picking Ravensbergen with the Vegas 1st next year, but realistically any 18 year old goalie picked in 2025 isn’t going to be ready for another five years.

 

[StreetHawk]

I could see us picking Ravensbergen with the Vegas 1st next year, but realistically any 18 year old goalie picked in 2025 isn’t going to be ready for another five years.

If you are rebuilding you do want to grab your goalie early on as they don’t make the NHL’s until 22/23 of age. Need to be patient with them.

If your current starter is 30, then you should assess your pipeline and if there isn’t someone you truly think can be a starter one day you need to consider taking one early either in round 1 or 2 if there’s someone that your scouts and goalie coach likes.

Timeline wise Askarov taking over from Sarros did line up but Nash has now opted to continue with Sarros. Probably why you don’t want to take goalies before the teens. Value just isn’t there as now Nash couldn’t get a Lundell who was on the board or Jarvis also in the board in a straight up trade.

 

[ameselare]

I could see us picking Ravensbergen with the Vegas 1st next year, but realistically any 18 year old goalie picked in 2025 isn’t going to be ready for another five years.

Yes, that's why he'd be the goalie of the future. Rebuilds, even when successful, take a long time to come to fruition. Gone are the days of Pittsburgh winning a cup 4 years post-Crosby draft, Chicago winning 3 years post-Kane draft, etc.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Yes, that's why he'd be the goalie of the future. Rebuilds, even when successful, take a long time to come to fruition. Gone are the days of Pittsburgh winning a cup 4 years post-Crosby draft, Chicago winning 3 years post-Kane draft, etc.

It all depends on timeline. Pittsburgh and Chicago were closer to the end of their rebuilds and won a lottery to speed the timeline up.

If Ravensbergen is the real deal and is selected by a team coming out of their rebuild or a team already good, that's much different than him going to a team still years away from getting out of the (re)building phase.

 

[ameselare]

It all depends on timeline. Pittsburgh and Chicago were closer to the end of their rebuilds and won a lottery to speed the timeline up.

If Ravensbergen is the real deal and is selected by a team coming out of their rebuild or a team already good, that's much different than him going to a team still years away from getting out of the (re)building phase.

Yeah but I was specifically referring to San Jose in my comment, who are at/near the very beginning of their rebuild, and just selected 1OA this year.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

15 clubs have not drafted a goalie high in the past 3 drafts. Even if you add in Minny with Wallstedt in 2021, that would drop it down to 14.

That leaves teams like Cal, Van, SJ, Nas (if they move off Askarov), Win, Dal, Tor, Ott, Bos, NYR, NYI (took Luneau in 2021), Pitt, Wash, Fla (still have Knight from 2019) as the most likely to draft him high.

Fla, Tor have no first rounder in 2024. Owed by Cal (more likely to go to Mon), and Chicago.

Cal has NJ's 1st so they could use that. Van, might have too many holes in F/D prospects to go G, SJ, needs a goalie prospect if they don't have one. Nash, depending on how Askarov situation plays itself out. Bos, have Swayman and need to replenish asset base from their Lindholm/Bertuzzi trades. NYI with Luneau probably not going to take a G.

So, mostly likely would be Cal, Sj, Win, Pitt, Wash IMO. But any of Win, Dal, Ott could as well. New York teams set in net for a while.

I'd love the Canucks to draft Ravensbergen, especially given he's a North Van guy.

It also fits the time-frame for Demko replacement in 5-8 years.

 

[StreetHawk]

I'd love the Canucks to draft Ravensbergen, especially given he's a North Van guy.

It also fits the time-frame for Demko replacement in 5-8 years.

Over the past 5 drafts the Canucks only had 2 firsts and 1 second that they used on the draft floor. Klimovich the 2nd rounder is headed back to Europe or khl I believe. Leaves Lekky and Wallinder as the only top 2 round selections over the past 5 drafts. It’s pretty thin in the prospect pool. Not sure the Canucks can afford to spend a first on a goalie when they need skaters desperately.

 

[Bubbles]

Good game against the Giants tonight. Kept the team in it the 3rd when the Giants came back. Made some key saves with his quick feet.

And he is officially 6'5 now. For goalies, every inch matters I guess but there's a chance he may reach 6'6 by the time the draft rolls around.

 

[Bubbles]

4W streak. Really held the fort in the Kelowna game in the 2nd period, allowing the team to come back for the win.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What's the deal? Has only a .900 SV%. Down from .907 last season. Is he struggling or his team is that bad and they're ruining his numbers?

 

[FourQuarters]

What's the deal? Has only a .900 SV%. Down from .907 last season. Is he struggling or his team is that bad and they're ruining his numbers?

If you watch the last two games Cougars played against Kelowna, you will understand why he is a great goalie. He totally outplayed Rockets' goalie, who is also great.
PG's Dmen aren't as strong as last season, and season is young, .907 to .900 may only need one bad game

 

[landy92mack29]

overall he's been good just 2 bad games tanked numbers otherwise he'd be around 920

 

[pgfan66]

What's the deal? Has only a .900 SV%. Down from .907 last season. Is he struggling or his team is that bad and they're ruining his numbers?

Goalie stats (at least what we have available today) are extremely random. No reason to get worried about a .007 decline through a quarter of a season.

 

[Bubbles]

He was absolutely sparkling against Victoria this weekend. Two games, and he was 55 shots saved out of 57, and was great especially on top chances. 1st star of the game both games.

 

[pgcougsfan]

He was absolutely sparkling against Victoria this weekend. Two games, and he was 55 shots saved out of 57, and was great especially on top chances. 1st star of the game both games.

Stole both games, especially the first period of the second game when PG got outshot 20-5. He kept them in it and they were able to rally in the second.

 

[Hinterland]

Not that bad of a pass. Kid can make plays as well.

 

[FourQuarters]

Cougars pull him after he allowed 4 goals, but if the goalie in the net isn't Raven, there would be another 4-5pts night for Cristall-Catton line

 

[DesmondDekker]

Regarding Wheeler’s list of top drafted goalies, where do you think Ravensbergen would fit !?

 

[LeProspector]

Overrated.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Overrated.

Is his SV% high enough to be picked in the first round?

 

[Bubbles]

Another great weekend for him. Totally stopped the league leading Tips, came close to winning the Friday game. Looked great tonight and almost had the shutout. 7-2 in his last 9 games. The stats watchers need to watch some games once in a while.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Another great weekend for him. Totally stopped the league leading Tips, came close to winning the Friday game. Looked great tonight and almost had the shutout. 7-2 in his last 9 games. The stats watchers need to watch some games once in a while.

I know you’re at least partially referring to me since my post is right above yours and I questioned him.

I want Ravensbergen to succeed. He’s the last hope for a first round goaltender after Ivankovic and Harenstam tanked this season. I don’t think it’s the deepest draft either and there aren’t that many clear first round players. I want him to be legit.

But his stats are hovering in that range where the questions must be asked. His stats have actually went backwards this year. He’s barely hovering above a .900 (.904). His team isn’t like an atrocious team either where he has no chance. They are pretty decent. His stats compared to the last late birthday first round goaltender out of the W are not even in the same galaxy (Cossa had .941, albeit in 19 games in the weird COVID WHL season).

I want to believe you that he’s the rare goaltender worth a first, but it’s a little hard. He’s testing my patience. My rule with goaltenders is usually they must, at minimum, have the stats for early rounds. I think it’s the absolute most important position to look at the most basic stats. First round? I’d say that’s magnified even more.

 

[Bubbles]

I know you’re at least partially referring to me since my post is right above yours and I questioned him.

I want Ravensbergen to succeed. He’s the last hope for a first round goaltender after Ivankovic and Harenstam tanked this season. I don’t think it’s the deepest draft either and there aren’t that many clear first round players. I want him to be legit.

But his stats are hovering in that range where the questions must be asked. His stats have actually went backwards this year. He’s barely hovering above a .900 (.904). His team isn’t like an atrocious team either where he has no chance. They are pretty decent. His stats compared to the last late birthday first round goaltender out of the W are not even in the same galaxy (Cossa had .941, albeit in 19 games in the weird COVID WHL season).

I want to believe you that he’s the rare goaltender worth a first, but it’s a little hard. He’s testing my patience. My rule with goaltenders is usually they must, at minimum, have the stats for early rounds. I think it’s the absolute most important position to look at the most basic stats. First round? I’d say that’s magnified even more.

Partially a bit. You keep going back to stats and stats questions when myself and others have already answered it. It can easily answered because he occasionally has an awful game which skewers the stats.

The Cougs play a really offensive game where they pretty much let Ravensbergen out to dry. Which means he faces a lot of high danger chances.

But he has stolen so many games that I've lost count. And the games where he gets shelled, he's keeping them in games that they have no business in. He's also 6'6 and with really quick feet, and not just a big body that fills the net. It's all about projections as well.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Partially a bit. You keep going back to stats and stats questions when myself and others have already answered it. It can easily answered because he occasionally has an awful game which skewers the stats.

The Cougs play a really offensive game where they pretty much let Ravensbergen out to dry. Which means he faces a lot of high danger chances.

But he has stolen so many games that I've lost count. And the games where he gets shelled, he's keeping them in games that they have no business in. He's also 6'6 and with really quick feet, and not just a big body that fills the net. It's all about projections as well.

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think “having the occasional awful game” is anything other than a very bad thing that should be treated as such. And I don’t agree it’s all a projection. Being good now begets being good later.

I’m willing to give your argument the benefit of the doubt and generally with the player, but I think there are fair questions that can be had about Ravensbergen.

 

[Hinterland]

I know you’re at least partially referring to me since my post is right above yours and I questioned him.

I want Ravensbergen to succeed. He’s the last hope for a first round goaltender after Ivankovic and Harenstam tanked this season. I don’t think it’s the deepest draft either and there aren’t that many clear first round players. I want him to be legit.

But his stats are hovering in that range where the questions must be asked. His stats have actually went backwards this year. He’s barely hovering above a .900 (.904). His team isn’t like an atrocious team either where he has no chance. They are pretty decent. His stats compared to the last late birthday first round goaltender out of the W are not even in the same galaxy (Cossa had .941, albeit in 19 games in the weird COVID WHL season).

I want to believe you that he’s the rare goaltender worth a first, but it’s a little hard. He’s testing my patience. My rule with goaltenders is usually they must, at minimum, have the stats for early rounds. I think it’s the absolute most important position to look at the most basic stats. First round? I’d say that’s magnified even more.

There's no doubt that Ravensbergen isn't always on top of his game...the thing is that when he is...he's tough to beat. He proved he can dominate the league when he's on top of his game. Not just for a few games but for weeks or even months. He was almost unbeatable during last season's playoffs.

Furthermore, I mentioned it last season already, PG isn't exactly good defensively. They're a strong side because they mostly get good goaltending from Ravensbergen and because they have a ton of offensive firepower. Their defense is pretty underwhelming though and their forwards aren't known for a strong two way game either...which leads to the goalie having to deal with lots of high danger chances. So just because Ravensbergen is playing behind a team winning lots of games it doesn't necessarily mean his job is easy. Anyone actually watching PG games is gonna agree on that matter. Also, Ravensbergen outplayed a significantly older veteran goalie both this and last season.