It’s extremely cliche at point, but it makes sense to sort of slot each prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft into little archetypes and how team and public scouts view the player and what his potential could be. Little tiny buckets — whether it’s a big, slow defenseman, the surprisingly mobile big defenseman, the tiny offensive winger, the dog-on-a-bone winger who is also small, the super defensive European center that is projectable — that you can just try and plop down each player into and while it’s of course never perfect, it’s somewhat accurate.
Well, Mathis Preston is this year’s energetic forward with extreme skill, but teams don’t like some of the other ways he plays the game. The player that was once projected to go in the top five of this Draft and could have even been the first forward taken after Gavin McKenna, has come crashing down because scouts picked his game apart and some of his counting stats don’t look all that impressive.
Preston’s fall from projected grace was no graceful after what was a very solid rookie season in the WHL. Last year, the 5-foot-11 forward scored 23 goals and 45 points in 54 games for the Spokane Chiefs — a solid Draft-1 season for a very good prospect. But then he followed that up with no big production leap. Scoring just 14 goals and 32 points in 36 games with the Chiefs is just not great to look at, and then the midseason trade to the Vancouver Giants did not set him off on the right course either, with just four goals and 12 points in 10 games with his new team.
That’s just points and production though and a lot of that is dependent on the quality of teammates and Preston didn’t have that.
Some people fall in love with the skill that they see and think highly of his potential, while some also see something else and don’t think he’s anywhere close to being a first-round pick.
Pre-draft rankings
Ranked #32 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #33 by Elite Prospects
Ranked #22 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #35 by Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)
Ranked #23 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Preston is an offensive player in the most pure sense. Whether it’s his skating — which could be seen as the best in this draft class — or his NHL-level shot that can rifle the puck into the back of the net with such ease that it can only come from some someone crafting their shot for the last decade or since they could barely lift the stick itself, it’s just special.
There’s just something innately intriguing about Preston’s package in those two skills alone, but it’s the total grab-bag worth of tricks and tools that the crafty forward has while in the offensive zone that truly takes him over the top in that area. If we’re talking about pure skill alone that can take a player to being a top-six forward and stand out in the NHL, Preston can be seen as right up there with someone like McKenna — or at least a solid contender for No. 2 on that list.
And while Preston does not have some wild two-way game, there is the same competitive edge of someone who tries to run their opponent into the ground. Preston just does it with his skill and speed and at an incredibly high pace. The second he gets position of the puck, it’s almost like you changed the play speed of a video on YouTube. He just explodes with his first stride with possession and can separate himself from the defenders so easily with that speed. It’s an asset that will keep him productive in his career.
He just takes on defenders 1-on-1 like it’s nothing and can dangle his way out of any problem. He might not be able to do that once he takes the step up to the AHL or something, but right now he’s making WHL defenders question their life choices the second he blows past them or breaks their ankles so easily.
And impacting a game overall is something Preston can do. When watching a game of Preston’s, you automatically notice him when he’s on the ice. He’s always moving. Always looking for some space and to get the puck back if he doesn’t have it. Just a waterbug that sometimes seems aimless but always comes out pulling off some sort of move.
Preston has the skill that is unteachable and really hard to even bring on your team unless it is through the Draft. So, why do most public scouts view him as a player out of the top-32? Why would scouts not even touch him in the first round?
What’s not to like?
There are some warts. What you think of Preston and his projectability is relative to how big of a deal you think his warts are.
One of the main warts that I have found with Preston is that he plays a very individual game. All the skill in the world but what’s the point of it if you don’t incorporate his teammates as often as you should? He would rush into the zone, get into open space, and then maybe take a shot from way too far away and have the puck go the other way, way too often. No real thought to use that speed to cycle and set up some other players for larger scoring chances.
A lot of Preston’s offensive game is fairly predictable. It’s just that in juniors, Preston’s speed and shooting ability is so far beyond his peers that he has been able to coast on it to get the production that he does. He does have a competitive edge of course, and stays engaged in the game, but scouts could assume that he’s more thinking about how to get his next point rather than thinking how he can greater affect the entire game.
He can be a frustrating player, but these problems only become a big issue if the team that drafts him isn’t willing for him to learn and to try and teach the way that he needs. If he’s willing to learn and is willing to listen to all the members of your development staff throughout next season, a whole lot of problems could be wiped away. He can engage more of his teammates, use more his speed and skill to greater affect the game, do all the little things in a supportive role rather than trying to be the star on every shift. That stuff is coachable. It’s Preston’s skill that cannot be coached in a player and that feels like an easy swing to make.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
While the Flyers certainly have a lot of players in their prospect pool, it is full of high-motor, high-effort players who could serve a role in pro hockey down the line. That’s great. We love that they have all of that. But, they don’t have the type of player like Preston — the highlight-reel monster that will either be an eye-popping player in the NHL, or just a farmhand in several years.
There’s more projectability in the Flyers’ system than real high-ceiling potential and Preston would absolutely give the Flyers that and something to look forward to as we all watch him dance around poor defenders and shoot bullets past netminders during his development.
Could the Flyers get him?
Almost certainly. It would be incredibly shocking if Preston was one of the first 20 selections made next Friday, so he will be right there and available for the Flyers to take him at 21st overall if they truly want to. But, it’s only a question whether or not they want to make that massive high-upside pick, or just go rather safe.
Now, as a second-round pick at 53rd overall, it would be much more likely that the Flyers take that swing but by then, it would again be surprising if Preston is still there at that point. Maybe not extremely surprising, since players of Preston’s ilk always drop a little further than we can ever project, but he does feel like a perfect Day 2 bet for some team to take a bet on.
What scouts are saying
“Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Preston left scouts wanting more during the season. They fell in love again at the U-18s, where he was one of Canada’s top players every single game. He’s an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing in the back of the net from the slot. It’s NHL-ready right now – something very few 17/18-year-olds can claim. Preston consistently finds open space, but he can also create those opportunities with his skating. He’s fast, can start and stop on a dime and can often skate himself out of dangerous situations.”
–Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
“Seeing him ranked in the second round by many is borderline outrageous, as he went from one team that struggled to score and generate offense with him to a team that missed the playoffs and had the same problems. This is why I track the data I do. Preston played just 10 games with the Giants, but in that time he scored in 9, had 3 multi-point games, and had points on 44% of Vancouver’s goals in those games. It’s a smaller sample, but of all the players I’ve ranked, that is the highest value out of anyone playing on this continent. Yes, that includes Malhotra, Klepov, the Rucks, Hurlbert, and even Gavin McKenna. Preston has star upside, and every time I hear him speak and play hockey, I still see a potential regen of William Nylander there. The skill, speed, confidence, dual-threat offensive output, dominance of the neutral zone offensively, and underrated competitive nature are things to bet on to say the least.”
—Will Scouch, scouching.ca
“Preston is one of the fastest skaters in the draft class, combining fully-extended strides with rapid-fire crossovers to blaze around defenders. With hands that match, he dangles opponents, often in creative ways, and masks his release with quick handling.
Speaking of his shot, it too is lethal. Preston fires with power and precision at full speed, without even breaking stride. He requires no wind-up, fires off the catch, and doesn’t need much to find a corner. One of his go-to moves is curling off the wall across the circle and firing on the move, showing far only to rip the puck short side.
Most nights, Preston gets the puck, flies down the wing full tilt, and fires from the far clutches of the offensive zone. He doesn’t give his teammates much opportunity to join his rushes, and doesn’t show much awareness to get inside or create better shooting lanes for himself. When compounded by very inconsistent motor and physical engagement, he has nights when he achieves little.
If Preston keeps developing his change-of-pace game, playmaking, and inside play, he could become a second-line scorer. Without it, he may end up as an AHL scorer. There’s risk, but the reward could be worth a relatively high pick.”
–2026 Elite Prospects Draft Guide
Next up on the poll is skilled center out of the QMJHL, Yegor Shilov! We’re getting into the depths of the first round here.
“Shilov was one of the QMJHL’s most proficient offensive generators this year. The Tigres finished second last in the West and were ultimately bounced in four games in the playoffs. But Shilov finished the season with 32 goals and 82 points while showing instant chemistry with fellow Russian draft prospect Alexei Vlasov (80 points). Nobody else came close to even reaching 50, so Shilov was exceptionally important. He dominates the puck game, and he’s as skilled as you’ll find in the CHL. There’s no lack of talent here – but he can get caught watching the puck far too often and simply lacks the pace to thrive at the next level. That’ll be a big sticking point for scouts this year.”
–Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
