Lin, Preston Ranked in 1st Round on Multiple Final NHL Draft Rankings
Langley, B.C. – Vancouver Giants skaters Ryan Lin and Mathis Preston are first-round candidates for the 2026 NHL Draft, according to multiple final rankings recently over the last few weeks.
Lin is ranked in the top-15 on eight different NHL draft rankings, including being ranked 10th overall by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic and 12th overall by both Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff and Jason Bukala of Sportsnet/Pro Hockey Group.
“He’s just an excellent all-around modern defenceman who gets it, and I think there’s some Josh Morrissey/Jared Spurgeon in him,” Wheeler said in his ranking. “I think he’s a phenomenal player who plays the game the way it’s meant to be played, and he might be my favourite prospect in the draft.”
Bukala, a former NHL Director of Amateur Scouting with the Florida Panthers, is the founder of The Pro Hockey Group, which populates scouting reports on pro and amateur players around the world.
“Lin’s a projectable, puck-moving, high-IQ defenseman who plays a well-rounded game,” Samuel Tirpak, a scout with The Pro Hockey Group, said in his evaluation. “He is capable of playing on both special teams and logging big minutes at the same time. A smart decision-maker in all three zones who improved his physical game from a consistency standpoint. Great first pass, great DZ coverage and gap control defensively. In my opinion, he projects as a top-pair, number-two defender in the NHL.”
A visual look at the Pro Hockey Group’s evaluation of Lin’s attributes.
Lin is the 16th ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft.
See below for a consolidation of Lin’s ranking on 13 different lists:
| Rank | Publication | Author | Released | Takeaways |
| 9th | Hockey Prospecting | Byron Bader | May 22 | “Lin probably isn’t talked about enough. He has a really elite profile in the model…If he hits, there’s a good chance he hits really big.” |
| 10th | The Athletic | Scott Wheeler | June 3 | “The smartest defenseman in this draft and arguably its most well-rounded…does almost everything at a high level.” |
| 11th | Cam’s Consensus | Poll of NHL Scouts | June 4 | |
| 12th | Daily Faceoff | Steven Ellis | June 22 | “One of the most naturally skilled defensemen in this class. High-end decision-making combined with explosive skating makes him a one-man transition machine.” |
| 12th | Sportsnet | Jason Bukala | June 9 | “A transitional defenceman and power play quarterback. He added more of a “shooting” approach to his game offensively this season.” |
| 13th | Hockey Prospect Radio | Shane Malloy | June 1 | |
| 15th | Sportsnet | Sam Cosentino | June 17 | “When he returned at the end of February he looked revitalized. Lin already has elite skill and, with more refinement, he can impact the game in all areas of the ice.” |
| 15th | Elite Prospects | Multiple Authors | June 2 | “The draft’s most detailed defender plays a remarkably consistent defensive and puck-moving game; a high-probability top-four defender.” |
| 17th | The Hockey News | Tony Ferrari | June 22 | “One of the best breakout passers in the draft class, and his playmaking in the offensive zone is quite impressive. His skating is strong, allowing him to evade pressure.” |
| 17th | TSN | Craig Button | June 17 | |
| 17th | Smaht Scouting | Multiple Authors | June 18 | |
| 18th | TSN Consensus | Poll of NHL Scouts | June 22 | |
| 18th | Dobber Prospects | Multiple Authors | June 22 | “A very intelligent two-way WHL defenseman…will activate in the offensive zone and is a real threat to score.” |
| 20th | FloHockey | Chris Peters | June 15 |
Preston is ranked in the top-20 on five rankings and is a first-round pick on eight different NHL draft rankings, including being ranked 9th overall by Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News and 22nd overall by Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff.
“Possibly the most divisive player in the draft class, Mathis Preston is the king of upside in this class,” Ferrari said in his ranking. “When you watch him on the ice, though, he’s a high-paced, high-skill winger who is like a knife through butter in transition at times…Preston is always looking to make an impact offensively, using his snappy shot and slick passing to generate scoring chances. He has all of the potential in the world to be one of the most effective offensive players in this draft class.”
Ellis noted a strong showing for Canada at the IIHF U-18 Worlds may have helped his draft stock.
“Preston left scouts wanting more during the season [but] they fell in love again at the U-18s, where he was one of Canada’s top players every single game,” Ellis said in his ranking. “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.”
Preston is the 32nd ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft.
See below for a consolidation of Preston’s ranking on 12 different lists:
| Rank | Publication | Author | Released | Takeaways |
| 9th | The Hockey News | Tony Ferrari | June 22 | “The king of upside in this class…his ability to be a true game-breaker is too enticing.” |
| 11th | Smaht Scouting | Multiple Authors | June 18 | |
| 19th | Dobber Prospects | Multiple Authors | June 22 | “A highly dynamic winger who can burn defenders on the outside and then make a move on the goalie to seal the deal.” |
| 20th | Hockey Prospecting | Byron Bader | May 22 | “As a late 1st rounder, early 2nd he’s going to be great value.” |
| 22nd | Daily Faceoff | Steven Ellis | June 22 | “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.” |
| 23rd | The Athletic | Scott Wheeler | June 3 | “A shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver.” |
| 28th | Cam’s Consensus | Poll of NHL Scouts | June 4 | |
| 31st | TSN Consensus | Poll of NHL Scouts | June 22 | |
| 33rd | Elite Prospects | Multiple Authors | June 2 | “Blazing speed and explosive shooting make him a rush threat, but must develop more translatable patterns to reach his second-line potential.” |
| 35th | Sportsnet | Jason Bukala | June 9 | “Competitive two-way forward with secondary scoring upside. He has the motor and skill set to be deployed in a variety of roles and played some of his best hockey at the U18 worlds representing Canada.” |
| 37th | FloHockey | Chris Peters | June 15 | “Has so much natural skill and feel for the game that, at his best, he looks like a first-round talent.” |
| 39th | TSN | Craig Button | June 17 |
