Why Caleb Malhotra’s rise up 2026 NHL Draft boards is so fascinating

Jun 3, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 2, 2026, 12:33 EDT

Caleb Malhotra (Brenden Taylor/OHL Images)

Credit: Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images

While Gavin McKenna was absolutely decimating the WHL a year ago, Caleb Malhotra was busy putting up the 10th-best numbers on a second-tier British Columbia-based junior league.

Malhotra always planned on going the OHL route, electing to pass on signing with the Kingston Frontenacs to play with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. That also allowed him to stay closer to his family, with his father, Manny, coaching the Abbotsford Canucks to an AHL championship.

But once the NCAA allowed players with CHL experience to play, Malhotra’s name was immediately linked back to the OHL. He still finished out the year in Chilliwack, but his rights were traded to the Brantford Bulldogs on Dec. 9, 2024 – just over seven months after committing to Boston University.

Most expected the Bulldogs to challenge for an OHL title. And, typically, younger players struggle to maximize ice time on competitive teams. Still, he was going to be part of a winning environment – and win, they did. The Bulldogs didn’t lose a regulation game until Nov. 29. By then, Maholtra had already established himself as one of the OHL’s elite talents, registering 32 points in 24 games. He even was one of the top stars at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, tallying a point in both games while showcasing his dominance away from the puck, too.

Before long, Malhotra was one of the draft’s most prominent risers. For example: a total of 44 players were named to Canada’s two 2024 U-17 World Challenge rosters. Maholtra wasn’t there. He also wasn’t at the U-18 World Championship the following spring or the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.

Just about any draft board posted prior to September didn’t have Malhotra on it, either.

His rise has been fascinating to watch. Malhotra has always been a notable prospect – he had 48 points in 48 games with the Vaughan Kings in 2023-24. For reference, Adam Valentini was the top U-16 player in Ontario that year, scoring 52 goals and 134 points in 57 games. But anyone who watched Malhotra that season knew one thing – he was a damn reliable two-way player when most kids his age were showcasing flashy moves to entice scouts. And even then, the thought of an 80-point draft season in major junior seemed unlikely.

Fast forward to today. The majority of the top-performing U-16 players that season weren’t even on NHL’s Central Scouting’s radar this year. Malhotra, meanwhile, is a near shoo-in to be the first Ontario-based forward off the board. It’s funny how things change over a two-year span.

A big reason for that? As the Bulldogs continued to add to their roster throughout the year, Malhotra refused to quit. His only multi-game performance without a point came in mid-March. Malhotra finished the year with 29 goals and 84 points in 67 games, which was good for second behind Nikita Klepov among draft eligible prospects.

No matter the situation, Malhotra’s ice time never seemed to dip. Power play, penalty kill, 5-on-5, you name it. He averaged over 19 minutes a night (per Instat) despite playing in a forward group full of NHL Draft prospects. Malhotra wasn’t getting carried by better players – he was making everyone around him better.

“Few centers can come into the league as a rookie and command the attention that Malhotra did,” one scout said earlier this spring. “He’s so mature, so smart. Has the puck so frequently and makes life difficult for opponents every single night.”

The best prospects are the smartest ones, and that’s where Malhotra shines through. He reads plays exceptionally well – scouts say it’s like he’s always playing a step ahead of the competition. He finds open lanes with ease, and he’s very difficult to contain in transition. Malhotra knows when to carry the puck up himself and when to look for an open lane and regroup. Might seem simple on the surface, but it’s pretty common for young players to panic under pressure. There’s no such thing as panic in Malhotra’s game.

That was especially critical during the playoffs. The Bulldogs were ultimately bounced in the third round, but Malhotra still finished fifth in playoff scoring with 13 goals and 26 points in 15 games. His 1.73 point-per-game average was by far the best of any draft-eligible prospect, and good for second among players with at least 10 games played. By all accounts, Malhotra was Brantford’s best player during the playoffs, proving he could handle the pressure.

There aren’t really any glaring flaws in Malhotra’s game. “Consistency” is the word that gets thrown around time and time again when describing his game. The big questions, though, are whether he has the offensive potential to be a true No. 1 center, and if his rise this year is completely legit. Will Malhotra continue to prove himself as a legitimate difference-maker? Is the ceiling as high as, say, Viggo Bjorck? Is Malhotra the best option in a weaker year for centers, or is Malhotra capable of turning a franchise around?

That’s what the Vancouver Canucks, in particular, need to figure out. Assuming Toronto takes Gavin McKenna and San Jose either goes with Ivar Stenberg or a defenseman, Vancouver is in a perfect spot to take a center at No. 3. If a team doesn’t think Malhotra is a No. 1 center, don’t be surprised to see him fall. Thankfully, he has all the makings of a high-impact center. The floor is high enough to fall in love with his game, and he has been excellent at just about every showcase event this year, too.

There’s been plenty of noise surrounding whether Vancouver would actually pass on Malhotra (the projected first center off the board) – I’m not sure I buy it. Even ignoring the fact that they just hired his father as the coach, it just seems like a good fit for what Vancouver needs. And, hey – if Malhotra isn’t a No. 1 center, they’ll have a chance to land someone like Alexis Joseph, Carter Meyer, Jaxon Jacobson, or Milan Sundstrom next June. You can never have enough good centers.

Malhotra is committed to Boston University, where he’ll have an opportunity to challenge for the No. 1 center job against fellow 2026 NHL Draft prospect Tynan Lawrence. For fans chasing a comparable, Malhotra’s defensive game will remind you a bit of Matty Beniers, but with a higher hockey IQ. Scouts have also thrown around a name like Anton Lundell, someone who contributed to Florida’s two Stanley Cup wins in a big way. Malhotra has a bit more offensive skill, though.

Right now, all signs point to Malhotra being the first center off the board. There isn’t a single team that couldn’t use more center depth. And for most scouts, Malhotra is the best available. Regardless, it’s been incredible watching him rise up draft boards this year. And, who knows? Maybe he still has another gear in his game to unlock.

Wouldn’t that be something?

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