Jack Ivankovic's Path to the NHL
Last August, when the Nashville Predators traded Yaroslav Askarov to the San Jose Sharks, many people—myself included—slammed Barry Trotz for giving up so quickly on one of the team’s best prospects.
A year later, I still think that situation was mishandled, but the Preds have already jump-started an extremely thin goaltender pipeline. Enter Jack Ivankovic.
It was no secret that Nashville was going to draft a goalie this summer, and they were able to wait out the board and snag Ivankovic near the end of the second round. Coming from the Ontario Hockey League’s Brampton Steelheads, Ivankovic sported a 0.903 save percentage in his draft year but really turned heads at both the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships (WJC) with Team Canada.
This year, Ivankovic is starting for the University of Michigan and has a serious chance of leading the Wolverines to a national title. After 12 games, Michigan sits second in the USCHO poll with a 10-2-0 record, including 3-1-0 in Big Ten contests. The conference is a heavyweight, with Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin all expected to compete for a title too, but Ivankovic has been a safety valve for a Michigan roster laden with NHL talent.
Last weekend, Ivankovic went 1-1 against Wisconsin, allowing ten goals across the weekend; it was an uncharacteristically sloppy performance for the goalie. This year, he’s got a 10-2-0 record with a 0.911 save percentage and 0.852 goals saved above average (amongst goalies with ten-plus starts). Of the 25 goals he’s surrendered, nine have come on the power play, and he’s recorded two shutouts to date.
Standing at 6’0”, Ivankovic has never been hailed for his physical traits, but he’s always been commended for his mental game and technical skills. His puck tracking has translated nicely to the college level, as shown above, frustrating shooters even as they get him moving laterally.
Against high-danger chances, Ivankovic often remains composed, challenging shooters not with a flashy glove or an extraordinary blocker save, but with exceptional positioning, as shown above and below.
Despite his smaller stature, Ivankovic’s positioning, combined with strong push-offs, lets him win many cross-ice chances.
Ivankovic has still had his blemishes. A few misreads have dragged him out of position this season (as shown below), and he could add quickness to his recovery timing.
Regardless, Ivankovic just hasn’t been beaten much on regrettable plays like below.
His biggest asset, and one that will be key to Michigan’s title hopes, is his poise. For a true freshman playing in one of college hockey’s best conferences, Ivankovic has shown NHL-ready composure against top opponents. The results so far speak for themselves and beg the question: how quickly will he get to the NHL?
The path ahead of Ivankovic is clear. Matthew Murray, Magnus Chrona, and Ethan Haider will not be NHL starters. And while I’m slightly bullish on Jakub Milota, there’s no guarantee Nashville even signs him next summer.
Let’s assume Milwaukee goes with Murray and Haider next year. If Michigan wins a national title this year, does Trotz see Ivankovic as a one-and-done player? It’s probably best he plays another year at Michigan, but the AHL in 2027-28 makes sense. And, if his development curve keeps on this track, I could see a 22-year-old Ivankovic pushing a 34-year-old Juuse Saros for the starting job in 2029-30.