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Could Caleb Malhotra be the target for Vancouver Canucks at NHL Draft?

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Apr 4 2026, 7:19 pm
Could Caleb Malhotra be the target for Vancouver Canucks at NHL Draft?
Could the Canucks consider drafting Caleb Malhotra at third overall? (@OHLhockey/X)

The hype around Caleb Malhotra has been growing all season.

But right now, it might be at a fever pitch.

The son of current Abbotsford Canucks coach Manny Malhotra has gone from a potential first-rounder to a likely top-10 pick at the upcoming NHL Draft in June.

There’s even a strong argument that he could go in the top three.

Malhotra has been elevating his game all season on a stacked Brandford Bulldogs team, which boasts a handful of players who already hold the status of being a first-round NHL pick (Jake O’Brien, Jett Luchenko, Marek Vanacker, Ben Danford, and Adam Jiricek).

Despite being one of the youngest players on the team, Malhotra has looked like a star amongst his peers. He finished his regular season second only to O’Brien with 84 points in 67 games.

Not bad for an OHL rookie, but he’s taken it one step further in the playoffs.

Malhotra recorded five goals and nine points in just three games for the Bulldogs as they laid it on the heavy underdog Sudbury Wolves. Five of those points came in one contest.

His continued ascension begs a serious question: Should the Canucks draft him in June?

Of course, the lottery has to be sorted out, but knowing the Canucks luck, their best odds are at drafting third overall.

If that’s the case, it could be hard to pass on Malhotra.

“Caleb Malhotra is the best centre in this draft going away,” NHL insider Jeff Marek said on Sekeres and Price.

“When the puck gets heavier and tighter checking, this guy just keeps on getting better and better,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a reach at all for three. I wouldn’t even think if it’s a reach for two.”

While not many are as bullish on Malhotra as Marek, it is hard to find flaws in the youngster’s game.

Much like his father, scouts have noted the two-way details in his game. He’s killed penalties all season long for the Bulldogs, and he’s been solid in the faceoff dot.

But to be a top-three pick, more is needed than that.

However, Malhotra seems to possess a higher offensive upside than his father. His shot isn’t necessarily a calling card, but he’s adept at getting it off.

He’s also worked his way up the lineup and has meshed well with some of Brantford’s top scorers, like Vanacker.

Even Luchenko, a natural centre selected 12th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2024, has recently been moved to the wing in favour of Malhotra.

Some scouts noted that skating and pace were two of the biggest issues in his game, but even that concern has dissipated as the season has progressed.

Remember who else struggled with skating and pace as a Canucks prospect?

Bo Horvat, someone who does have parallels stylistically to Malhotra.

In terms of the development runway, another benefit is that Malhotra doesn’t turn 18 until June, making him one of the younger players in this draft. That footnote only makes his mature game more impressive.

“Caleb has been a jack of all trades,” Bulldogs head coach Jay McKee said earlier in the season.

“He’s a very well-rounded player who’s been excelling in all areas. He brings a strong, consistent work ethic, combining it with physicality, high-end playmaking, and goal-scoring. He’s been used in all areas with us in Brantford, eating big minutes at 5v5, while also being a regular on our special teams.”

The Canucks have recently leaned on drafting players who are well regarded off the ice in terms of their character, something Malhotra seems to embody as well.

“Manny and his wife have done an exceptional job at raising a really high-quality, character kid in Caleb,” McKee said. “His leadership ability, the way he connects with not just older but younger players, has been great.”

“He often asks for the linesmen’s first name so he can engage with them on the ice. He’s an absolute gem of a human being, and we’re grateful to have some time with him.”

Malhotra does share some stylistic traits with last year’s fourth overall pick, Caleb Desnoyers. The Utah Mammoth was slightly more productive during the regular season than Malhotra, but it was a dominant showing in the QMJHL playoffs that really cemented his draft stock.

Well, so far in these OHL playoffs, Malhotra is carving a similar path.

The Canucks desperately need centres in their organization. When you combine that with the fact that there’s no clear-cut option at third overall, it’s conceivable that the Canucks could add another Malhotra to the organization.

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