Meet the Steal of the 2026 NHL Draft

We continue our countdown to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo as it’s time to reveal who our steal of the draft will be. In case you missed it, we revealed who made our “Do Not Draft” list.

We define a steal as someone who is projected to go in a certain spot but has a real chance of exceeding the expectation of being chosen in that spot. In other words, someone who will provide value on draft day while hitting their ceiling.

In this space last year, we chose Malcolm Spence. He recorded 10 goals and 25 points at the University of Michigan this past season. We still believe he has a chance to exceed expectations from his draft position of 43rd overall.

Now how do we choose a steal? It really depends on the circumstances surrounding a player. Take for example Winnipeg Jets prospect Kieron Walton. We selected him as a steal two years ago because his skill was evident but was much lower in the lineup. There was tremendous value there.

Sometimes, we identify players higher in the draft projections. Other times like in Walton’s case, their profile is enticing enough even outside the top-100 that it’s enough to call them a potential steal.

This season, our steal has a wide variety of opinions from scouts and draft pundits. There are some that have him within their top-10 overall. Meanwhile, some others have him ranked in the middle of the second round. And yet, there are others that have him in the middle of that range.

This kind of variance comes with enough significant questions. It sets up perfectly as to why they could be a draft-day steal in Buffalo especially if they fall out of the top-16, which many think will happen.

Our steal has all the qualities you look for in this situation. Their best hockey quality is elite but their perceived flaws will create real value for someone looking to take a swing.

Who is our Steal of the 2026 NHL Draft? Meet Vancouver Giants forward Mathis Preston.

Why Preston Is a Steal

There is a popular saying in the hockey world that those working in it swear by. Always bet on skill. There are no truer words than those especially when the draft is ongoing.

Preston perhaps has some of the biggest offensive upside of anyone in this class. On skill alone, he’s a potential top-10 talent.

Preston’s speed is explosive. His ability to make defenders play back is something that popped on tape watching him.

Preston has excellent hands. He has an elite shot but can also create space and make plays on the rush. He’s able to think the game at a high level while playing with the pace needed to succeed at the next level.

That all sounds really good. This offensive prowess would normally have the attention of all teams as a top-10 potential. But Preston’s season did not go as planned. He had to deal with both a midseason trade and then an injury soon thereafter.

Preston was traded from the Spokane Chiefs to the Vancouver Giants on Jan 5. If that wasn’t enough, just five days later, he took a knee-on-knee shot from Wenatchee’s Brandon Osborne. He was forced out of action for two months. Any momentum during his draft year was halted in that moment.

There are some who question what the time off meant for his development. But let’s remember what happened with Matthew Schaefer just for example. He was taken first overall in part because what he showed in the time he played was good enough for scouts to believe in the talent. Mathis isn’t Schaefer. But there is precedence of players being able to overcome injuries and missed time.

Others question the rest of Preston’s game outside of the offensive zone. Does he cheat for offense? Does he not put enough effort in his own zone? There’s no question that this part of his game needs work and consistency. This is a common theme for young, highly-skilled players.

Why some have Preston ranked lower ties into that consistency. When he’s on, he’s the best player on the ice. When he’s not, you barely notice him. Their ranking accounts for that hot and cold tendency. His numbers also don’t immediately jump off the page.

But that’s where value comes into play. The skill is undeniable. That’s the kind of skill you cannot teach. In talking to multiple players at the Combine, they named Preston as someone who is very difficult to play against. That says something.

What Is Preston’s Upside?

Usually when teams get to the back end of the first round or later, they look for players who have upside in certain parts of their game. It’s not often a player like Preston is available who has true, top-line potential in that part of the draft.

While his role and his future teammates will play a big part in how this goes, there are some who believe there is a potential 80-point per season NHL scorer. If he reached that potential, Preston would be one of the biggest steals in this draft.

But then even as a floor, there is middle-six potential with special teams involvement where Preston’s speed and skill would be on full display. The key for him will be to show he can round out his overall game.

As a potential late first-round pick or later, Preston has boom or bust potential. The reason he is our steal is that the skill is so good and pops on the tape that it’s worth the risk given where he’s expected to go. Very few prospects have the overall skill set he offers. A couple teams may even have him higher in the rankings for that reason.

But if he starts falling too much, the value in drafting Preston only grows. It’s for these reasons that he is our 2026 Steal of the NHL Draft.