Anaheim Ducks Draft Mathis Preston 50th Overall

Preston’s production in the WHL might not look too impressive on its face, but a mid-season injury had something to do with that and he has plenty of development runway remaining with a late July birthday. I think it’s fair to expect his production to really pop in his age 18 season next year with the Vancouver Giants, and he may even be on the radar for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. 

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

“Add Mathis Preston to the list of dynamic offensive wingers available at the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft. Although on the smaller side at less than 6 feet tall, Preston has amazing offensive abilities that just can’t go unnoticed. His shot reminds me a lot of Phil Kessel during his prime. Preston loves to blaze down the right wing and fire the puck either high glove or low blocker on opposing goaltenders, and oftentimes that shot goes into the back of the net.”

“In his first full season in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs, Preston scored 23 goals with the club and added another nine in 20 playoff games. This season has been a bit tougher for him to find that goal-scoring consistency after some missed games due to injury and a trade that sent him to the bottom-feeding Vancouver Giants. He worked more on his playmaking and finished the season with more assists than in 2024-25. With his season now over, Preston has finished 2025-26 with 18 goals and 44 points in 46 games.”

“Preston has also had a lot of success on the international stage when he has been lucky enough to wear the Maple Leaf. During this past summer, he played in the Hlinka-Gretzky Memorial tournament and helped Canada earn a bronze medal. In the five games he played at that tournament, Preston scored four goals and three assists for a total of seven points. He most notably scored a massive goal for Canada in the semi-finals against the USA, tying the game up 3-3 in the third period. He is bound to be an important part of Team Canada’s upcoming U-18 roster.” – Lukas Bernasiewicz  

Continue reading the full player profile here

How This Affects the Ducks’ Plans?

Mathis Preston is an inconsistent wing prospect who has the potential to explode offensively with his remarkable speed and hands. That’s exactly the type of prospect to take here in the second round, a big swing on someone who is either going to be a great organizational depth piece (aka, an AHLer), or who could be a serious offensive piece long-term. I like this bet by Anaheim a lot.