Presley was drafted 39th by the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. His best statistical season was the 1986–87 NHL season, when he scored 32 goals and 61 points. He also scored five shorthanded goals in consecutive years, 1993–94 and 1994–95. He played 684 career NHL games, scoring 155 goals and 147 assists for 302 points.