Vancouver Canucks draft Caleb Malhotra and Steve Nash made a surprise appearance
It was a magical moment at the draft for the Vancouver Canucks.
Caleb and Manny Malhotra sat front row in Buffalo at KeyBank Center for the NHL Draft, as Vancouver-based actress Cobie Smulders announced the first top-three pick for the Canucks in 27 years.
When she popped on the screen, Smulders made it a family affair.
With the third overall pick in the NHL Draft, the Canucks selected Caleb Malhotra, uniting him with his dad and new Vancouver coach Manny Malhotra.
Caleb went 3rd overall to the Canucks š„¹
What a moment for the Malhotra family š pic.twitter.com/k9XGfokdW8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 26, 2026
“This is unbelievable. This is something I’ve always dreamed of,” Caleb said on the broadcast.
Caleb was joined in the front row with his family, including his dad, Manny, and his mom, Joann.
And, the biggest star in the Malhotra family was also there: Caleb’s uncle, Steve Nash. The Canadian basketball icon is the brother of Caleb’s mom, Joann.
“I’m so thankful for them,” Malhotra said. “I wouldn’t be here without each and every one of them. There the reason I’m here; they pushed me every step of the way, telling me how to be great.”
Uncle Steve also made an appearance on the Sportsnet broadcast, giving his thoughts on the move as a family member and a Canucks fan.
“For Vancouver Canucks fans like myself, to have Caleb in the organization is amazing, and Manny is the highest character you can be, and I think you get similar [from Caleb].”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Canucks’ prospect Caleb Malhotra was congratulated by Uncle Steve Nash at the 2026 NHL Draft. (Sportsnet)
There could be some skepticism about a father-son duo working at the NHL level, especially with Caleb expected to be a centrepiece of this Canucks rebuild.
But for Canucks fans dreaming about this duo resuscitating the franchise, there is a pretty enticing example from the sports world to consider.
Over in Australia’s National Rugby League, father Ivan Cleary coaches his son, Nathan, for the Penrith Panthers. Not only that, but Nathan is the team captain.
Ivan and Nathan Cleary led the Panthers to four straight NRL championships between 2021 and 2024.
Yes, it’s a different sport, but at least there’s one clean example in sports of a father and son making history at the top level.
If two guys could make it work, it might just be Caleb and Manny.
āManny and his wife have done an exceptional job at raising a really high-quality, character kid in Caleb,āĀ Brantford Bulldogs head coach Jay McKee said earlier this season. āHis leadership ability, the way he connects with not just older but younger players, has been great.ā
“He’s an absolute gem of a human being.”
For now, Caleb is part of a monumental night for the Canucks, becoming the first player to be selected third overall by Vancouver since Daniel Sedin back in 1999.
“It’s beyond a dream come true,” Malhotra said.