With the Calgary Flames holding two first round draft picks, a player like Vancouver Giants forward Mathis Preston might be exactly what the team might go for.

With his elite speed, hard-to-read shot and impressive hockey IQ, this right-handed forward would be a great fit for the Flames. Preston is widely projected to be a late first round or early second round pick, although earlier in the season he was anticipated to be in the top 10 overall. Some still think he may be able to hold this spot.

Scouting report

Preston is a Penticton, BC born and raised player, spending his years before the WHL playing with Okanagan Prep over four seasons, playing on their under-15, under-16 and under-18 club teams.

During his 2022-23 season with Okanagan Prep, Preston was named the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) division MVP after racking up an impressive 81 points in just 26 games. This season was even more memorable for him when he was drafted third overall in the 2023 WHL Draft to the Spokane Chiefs.

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Potential top 5 pick in the 2026 #NHLDraft Mathis Preston had a big year for @spokanechiefs last year. In 54 games he tallied 23G 22A for 45P! He was spectacular at the U17 WHC recording 6G 1A in 5 games. Here are his highlights from his hatty

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9:22 PM · Aug 14, 2025

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Steven Ellis from Daily Faceoff shares his scouting report in his April rankings, stating that an injury might have caused Preston to fall lower in the draft pick ranks:

Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Preston left scouts wanting more in Spokane, and then he got injured shortly after joining Vancouver. Still, there’s a ton to like about his game, and he could end up being an excellent value pickup here. Preston does a good job of getting to the middle of the ice to redirect chances and take space away. I’ve liked him more in the showcase events (Hlinka, CHL USA Prospects Challenge), which shows he can rise to the occasion when needed. If Preston indeed joins Canada for the U-18s, look for him to be leaned on as a difference-maker – and hopefully boost his value. For now, scouts seem a bit mixed, given he’s undersized and not dominant enough offensively.

The numbers

During his short 2023-24 season with the Chiefs, Preston clinched four goals in just five games, which is impressive for his rookie season.

He did not slow down heading into his 2024-25 season, racking up 23 goals, 22 assists, totalling 45 points in 54 games. Adding to this remarkable season, Preston also won gold with Team Canada White at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge tournament.

Preston’s 2025-26 WHL season continued to push him into bigger and better affairs. With the Chiefs, he obtained 14 goals and 18 assists in 36 games, before being traded to the Vancouver Giants on Jan. 5, 2026.

He was able to play 10 games with the Giants, regardless of an injury that took him out of the lineup for around eight weeks.

Outside of the WHL, Preston played for Canada’s national team at the Under-18 World Championships. He was able to come away with two goals and four assists in five games before the team lost out of the tournament in the quarter finals. He also had seven points in five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Availability and fit

As stated earlier, Preston is well known for his elite speed, hard-to-read shot and impressive hockey IQ. Let’s dive deeper into these.

Elite Speed

Preston worked hard to achieve the ability to have explosive acceleration which allows him to have an innate ability to keep up with the play, which is something that the Flames need on the team. This speed also allows him to set the pace of the play, which allows the team to gain control of the game, which is another aspect that the Flames currently struggle with.

Hard-read shot

He has an incredibly hard and fast shot that allows him to find the back of the net from virtually any distance or angle. This allows him to rack up an impressive amount of points each game, which is never a downside in any player on any team.

Impressive hockey IQ

His hockey IQ is showcased most in his offensive awareness. He is able to read the play and then set himself or his teammates up for the best possible scoring opportunity.

If Preston is still on the board when the Flames select late in the first round, he could be a good fit for a team that needs to score more goals.

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