The Nashville Predators are still feeling the effects of the trade that saw top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov get dealt to the San Jose Sharks back in August 2024.
What was once considered one of the league's top goaltending development organizations is now left to dry without their future in net. To add even more fuel to the fire, the Preds will lose another top goalie prospect in Juha Jatkola after he signed a deal with KooKoo in Liiga. As a result, Nashville will lose his signing rights on July 1st.
With both gone, the goaltending hole couldn't look any deeper. We still have some promising pieces like Matt Murray and Magnus Chrona but they are nothing when compared to Askarov's potential.
The Predators will be feeling a lot of pressure at this year's draft with their three first round picks. It is almost certain that Nashville General Manager Barry Trotz will use the first pick to draft an elite centerman. After that, there is much uncertainty.
Trotz could use each of these picks to fill the holes in offense, defense, and goaltending. An ideal plan is to use the second pick to draft a skilled defenseman and the third to draft a talented goalie. The draft's top goaltender prospect, Joshua Ravensbergen, is expected to go in the late first round. With Nashville selecting at No. 23 and 26, Trotz has the opportunity to acquire a potential NHL starter.
Predators need size in net, Ravensbergen exceeds those needs
Nashville currently has the league's shortest goaltender Juuse Saros—only standing at 5'11. With the league getting more skilled by the day, Saros' height may be a growing weakness to talented moves like the Michigan or even simple plays like shooting top shelf. In the case of Ravensbergen—standing at an impressive 6'5", 192 lbs.—his large frame allows him to block shots in areas where Saros struggles to reach. He also catches with his right hand, which is an uncommon practice in the NHL.
The British Columbia native recorded a 0.901 SV% and 3.00 GAA with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. While his stats aren't as impressive, he won 31 games on a non-defensively sound squad. In 51 games with the club, he's shown signs that he has NHL starter potential. Not only is his size catching the eyes of many but his calmness and ability to lock in while in net. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff added that he saw glimpses of Askarov when Ravensbergen took the ice—some promising words for Preds fans missing the Russian goalie.
If there is one thing that is important among all goaltenders, it is situation awareness. He's earned praise for clutch performances in key moments and his ability to stop the puck at impossible angles. After watching a few minutes of his highlights, I can assure you that this kid has a lot of potential.
Some Growth is Needed but Will Come with Time
One of the weaknesses scouts have noticed is his rebound control. Jesse Courville-Lynch of The Hockey Writers wrote that Ravensbergen's tends to struggle when it comes to stopping rebounds at difficult angles. While he has worked on it throughout the season, it would still need some tweaking before he enters the NHL. Courville-Lynch also put some focus on his tracking but looking at his highlights, this issue may be solved sooner than expected.
One of the main issues the Predators had with the goaltending prospects is sharing the ice with the stars. The reason Askarov got traded in the first place was the lack of opportunities he was given to skate with the NHL squad—signing Scott Wedgewood was the final nail in the coffin. If Trotz were to take a shot at Ravensbergen at the draft, he needs to make sure that his future lines up with team's future.
Considering Ravensbergen would take around 2-3 years to develop into an NHL-ready goalie, Trotz needs make sure Saros' star-power and loyalty in Nashville doesn't get in the way of his development. Given that Saros is locked down long term, it would be a challenge to allow Ravensbergen to shine his brightest. However, if the organization does enter a rebuild where wins don't matter, he could eventually get a 60/32 split with the starter, seeing him on the ice 40% of the time.
While Ravensbergen may not be NHL-ready just yet, his size, mental composure, and raw skill make him a compelling option for the Predators at No. 26. If Trotz is serious about rebuilding the goaltending pipeline and ensuring long-term stability in net, investing in Ravensbergen could be a calculated, high-upside move. With the right development path—and a clearer roadmap than what Askarov received—Ravensbergen has the tools to become Nashville’s next franchise goaltender.