The reigning WHL champion Everett Silvertips addressed their biggest offseason need July 29, acquiring goaltender Jayden Kraus from the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for a third-round and sixth-round pick in the WHL Draft, the team announced.
Kraus, a 6-foot-2, 209-pound netminder from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, becomes the first goaltender added to the Silvertips' roster since championship backstop Anders Miller departed following the team's Ed Chynoweth Cup run last season.
The move is also Everett's first trade of the offseason after a string of forward and defenseman signings.
The 19-year-old posted a 14-11-1 record with a 3.65 goals-against average and .895 save percentage across 30 games for Brandon in 2025-26, according to NHL.com.
He earned WHL Goaltender of the Week honors at least once during the season after going 2-0 with a 1.45 GAA and .947 save percentage in starts against Wenatchee and Tri-City.
He catches left.
The EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide described Kraus as an aggressive, athletic goaltender who challenges shooters at the top of his crease and "explodes across with strong pushes off both legs" on lateral saves.
Originally selected by the Victoria Royals in the third round of the 2021 WHL Draft, Kraus was later traded to Brandon in a deal involving goaltender Ethan Eskit. Brandon moved Kraus to Everett as part of a pair of goaltending transactions Wednesday, also acquiring a netminder named Budd in a separate deal, according to Q Country 91.5FM.
General manager Mike Fraser's Silvertips have undergone significant roster turnover since hoisting the Ed Chynoweth Cup and reaching the Memorial Cup final. Captain Tarin Smith and alternates Carter Bear, Landon DuPont, and Jesse Heslop all departed, leaving forward Jaxsin Vaughan as the only returning letter-wearer.
The offseason additions so far include forwards Dario Blengino, Crosby Harrison, and defensemen Adam Boatter and Bode Laylin.
Kraus will compete for crease time when preseason opens in late August. The Silvertips host the Wenatchee Wild in their regular-season opener at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:05 p.m.
