EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips today announced the acquisition of high-scoring forward and first-round NHL Draft pick Nikita Scherbak in a trade with the Saskatoon Blades. The deal finds Everett surrendering goaltender Nik Amundrud, a first-round bantam pick in the 2015 WHL draft and a second-round pick in 2016 to the Blades in exchange for Scherbak’s services.

Scherbak, 18, was selected 26th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft. The Moscow, Russia native spent the past week in Montreal at Canadiens training camp and will participate in the club’s annual Red vs. White intrasquad scrimmage Monday night at the Bell Centre.

Selected 109th overall by Saskatoon in the second round of the 2013 CHL Import Draft, Scherbak immediately stepped into a starring role with the Blades last season. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound winger led all WHL rookies with 28 goals, 50 assists and 78 points in 65 games on the league’s second-lowest scoring team. Finishing 35 points ahead of Saskatoon’s second-leading scorer, Scherbak compiled 30 powerplay points (8g/22a) and also totaled 46 penalty minutes.

“We felt we needed to improve our offensive game and we’re thrilled to add a big-time offensive player and first-round NHL Draft pick to our lineup with Nikita,” said General Manager Garry Davidson. “He is a big, strong guy who can make plays with the puck and has the ability to score goals for us. We’re confident that he will make a big impact for our club offensively. In return we had to give up a good young goalie in Nik, who had a tremendous preseason and has showed significant improvement entering this year.”

Amundrud, 16, was a third-round selection (59th overall) of the Silvertips in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. Hailing from Melfort, Saskatchewan, he has dressed for numerous games with Everett over the past two seasons but has yet to make his WHL debut. He returns to his home province after leading all goaltenders in the preseason with a 0.51 goals-against average and a .981 saves percentage in four exhibition appearances.

The Silvertips travel to Portland for a pair of games this weekend at the Moda Center. The ‘Tips and Winterhawks face-off at 7:00 pm Saturday and 5:00 pm on Sunday, with both games being broadcast live on Fox Sports 1380 and streaming video available via WHL Live. Everett opens the home schedule the following weekend, hosting the Kelowna Rockets on Friday, Oct. 3 and the Winterhawks on Saturday, Oct. 4.

For more information call the team office at 425-252-5100, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.