Detroit Red Wings Could Surprisingly Select Goaltender With 13th Overall Pick

While many expect the Wings to either trade the pick or use it on a forward like Carter Bear or Lynden Lakovic if they're still available, there's growing speculation that general manager Steve Yzerman may take another route.

Indeed, it was suggested that the Wings could target a goaltender in the first round. With the team looking to add reinforcements on the top six, Yzerman could consider trading either Trey Augustine or Sebastian Cossa to do so, and if that happens, he could also take a serious look at Joshua Ravensbergen, ranked at the top of the North American goalies by the NHL.

Currently projected to go 20th overall by Tankathon, Ravensbergen might be considered a slight reach at No. 13. But if Yzerman believes he's a future starter, and given Detroit's need for long-term depth in net, it's not out of the question.

At 6'5» and 192 lbs, Ravensbergen has the ideal frame and composure to succeed in the NHL. He has two solid seasons with the WHL's Prince George Cougars under his belt, posting a .907 save percentage with a 2.46 GAA in 2023-24, followed by a .901 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA last season.

However, he couldn't get the job done in the playoffs, tallying a .896 SV% and a 3.00 GAA in seven games.

Given his development timeline, Ravensbergen could play another two seasons in the WHL before transitioning to the AHL or ECHL, with a chance to join the Red Wings in a backup role a few years later.

If Detroit believes he can eventually take over the crease, he's absolutely worth considering at 13th overall. But with Augustine set to make the jump to the pros after the 2025-26 season, that decision would hardly make sense.