Kent, Wash.- The Seattle Thunderbirds are staying busy in the leadup to the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline- and this time, they’re adding a slick sniper from the East Division.
The T-Birds have picked up Swift Current Broncos leading scorer Noah Kosick in exchange for winger Brendan Rudolph, a first-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
Kosick, 17, has notched 10 goals (including one game-winner and four powerplay tallies) and 24 assists for 34 points in 37 games.
He was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on October 14, 2025, after posting six points (1G-5A) in three games, while also starting the season with a 10-game point streak (4G-14A).
The 5-foot-10, 150-pound centreman from Victoria, B.C. snagged a ‘C’ rating as a potential fourth or fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary player list in October.
Originally drafted by Calgary with the 11th overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Kosick joined the Hitmen midway through the 2024-25 season and netted three points (1G-2A).
He was acquired by the Broncos for a pair of second-round draft picks on June 5, 2025.
Rudolph, 17, has already appeared in parts of three seasons for Seattle.
The 6-foot, 192-pound winger owns nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 35 tilts.
Since being called with the 153rd overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, he’s tallied 22 points (11G-11A) in 87 contests.
This marks the second deal between the two teams in 2026.
On January 5, Seattle also acquired blueliner Brennen Hocher and the rights to winger John Gramer (the T-Birds also signed Gramer’s older brother, Joe, on Wednesday) in exchange for veteran defenceman Hyde Davidson, the rights to Cruise Armstrong and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft.
Seattle has also added Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt from Vancouver and 2025 Philadelphia Flyers pick Matthew Gard from Red Deer.
The 2023 WHL Champions also made a splash when they sent captain Braeden Cootes to Prince Albert for Ethan Bibeau, Knox Burton, Tripp Fischer, Diego Guttierrez and a slew of picks.
Seattle (14-17-2-2) is in the midst of a Central Division road trip while pushing for a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
They’ll look to get in the win column when they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes (12-26-0-1) on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. MST.
