Austin Roest will be re-assigned to the Everett Silvertips from the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL), the Silvertips announced on Thursday. The 20-year-old forward will return to the WHL after completing rehabilitation from an undisclosed injury.

The Coldstream, British Columbia native played parts of four seasons with the Silvertips before signing a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville on March 1, 2024. Roest served as a co-captain last season, where he scored 38 goals and 71 points in 61 games, bringing his WHL career totals to 189 points across 203 games.

“When the opportunity arose to bring Austin back, it was a no-brainer,” Silvertips general manager Mike Fraser said in a press release. “He is a Silvertip to the core who understands our identity and culture. He’s excited to return to Everett once he is recovered from injury, and we’re happy to welcome him back to Silvertip country.”

A sixth-round pick (No. 175 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Roest has not appeared in a game this season, but once healthy will bring a massive boost to a Silvertips team that sits eight points clear atop the WHL standings (28-5-3-2, 61 points), with a game in hand over second-place Prince George (53 points).

With the 2025 WHL Trade Deadline set for 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, the Silvertips could have another move or two in store to bolster the roster for the home stretch of the season.