Silvertips add more defensive grit in swap for Blazers’ Ruedig

Everett, Wash.- Kayd Ruedig is heading back to the U.S. Division!

The 18-year-old defenceman has been snapped up by the league-leading Everett Silvertips in a WHL Trade Deadline deal with the Kamloops Blazers.

In exchange, the Blazers get a first and fourth-round pick in the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft.

Ruedig is enjoying a career-best season with 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in 37 contests with Kamloops and Portland.

He leads all Blazers defencemen in scoring and ranks sixth on the team in points.

Ruedig also pulled off a highlight-reel tally to score Kamloops’ 2025 Teddy Bear Toss goal.

🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥

Kayd Ruedig pulls off an absolutely DISGUSTING move to ignite the Teddy Bear Toss! 🧸#WHLHoN | @blazerhockey pic.twitter.com/Moe4LaE417

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 6, 2025

The 5-foot-11, 172-pound right-shot rearguard was originally drafted by the Winterhawks with the 84th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

He suited up for parts of three seasons in the Rose City before being traded to Kamloops on October 20, 2025.

Ruedig, from Humboldt, Sask., has amassed 46 points (14G-32A) in 103 career WHL games, in addition to a goal and two assists to help Portland reach the 2025 Western Conference Championship.

Notably, all of his playoff points came in Portland’s second-round series against none other than the Silvertips- which sent Everett packing for the season.

The Silvertips have been tinkering with the blueline as of late, adding Philadelphia Flyers prospect Luke Vlooswyk in a swap with the Red Deer Rebels back on January 2.

Their defensive corps also includes captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith, as well as exceptional-status defender Landon DuPont.

Everett (29-5-2-1) is 8-2-0-0 in its last 10 games to remain atop the WHL standings and in pursuit of a second-straight Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular-season champions.

The Silvertips are heading north to take on the B.C. Division powerhouse Prince George Cougars (23-13-2-0) in the Northern Capital for a set on Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11.

Both matches can be streamed for free on Victory+.

The 2026 WHL Trade Deadline is set for Thursday, January 8, at 6:00 p.m. MST.