Nashville Predators sign Everett Silvertips captain Austin Roest to entry-level contract

Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz announced today that the team has signed Everett Silvertips forward Austin Roest to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin in 2024-25.

Roest was drafted by Nashville in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 20-year-old has 31 goals and 28 assists for 59 points in 54 games for the WHL’s Silvertips. Roest, who is captaining the Silvertips this season, shares the Everett lead and is tied for 17th in the WHL in goals with 31. Roest has also recorded three of his four career WHL hat tricks this season.

In an interview with the Silvertips today, Roest had this to say about signing in Nashville, “It’s a crazy atmosphere in Nashville… it’s exciting for sure.”

The Coldstream, British Columbia product has 79 goals and 98 assists for 177 points in 196 career WHL games, all with Everett over the last four seasons. He has also recorded four goals and four assists for eight points in 11 WHL Playoff appearances.

Roest was named Everett’s most improved player following the 2022-23 season, where he more than doubled his point output from his rookie campaign that was in 2021-22 and set career highs in goals, assists and points notching 32 goals and 46 assists for 78 points.

Roest is also the son of former NHL player and current Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant General Manager Stacy Roest. With this signing, he becomes the third Player Selected by Nashville in the 2023 NHL Draft to sign with the Predators, the others being Kalan Lind and Tanner Molendyk, both from the WHL as well.

The Silvertips are in action tonight as they get ready to faceoff against Matthew Savoie, Denton Mateychuk, Jagger Firkus and the Moose Jaw Warriors. Then on Saturday, the Tips’ will play the Regina Pats, led by 2024 prospect Tanner Howe and Ewan Huet.