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Why Caleb Malhotra is perfect fit for Canucks in 2026 NHL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Vancouver Canucks certainly had to be bummed out during the NHL Draft lottery.
They had the best odds to earn the No. 1 overall pick, but they saw the Toronto Maple Leafs snag that spot instead.
Then they saw the San Jose Sharks earn the second pick.
That left the Canucks in the No. 3 spot.
There's just one reason that might work out OK: Caleb Malhotra.
MORE: The Mitch Marner irony of Auston Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs
Why Canucks, Caleb Malhotra are perfect fit
Malhotra is a local kid.
He's the son of AHL Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra, the affiliate of Vancouver.
That's a great fit in and of itself.
Malhotra is also a great center.
“Malhotra, however, has been on a rocket ship trajectory late in his draft year, morphing into a top offensive producer for Brantford down the stretch and into the OHL playoffs," The Athletic's Thomas Drance wrote recently. "He’s 6-2, he has plus wheels, he’s a conscientious, physically assertive two-way centre, and his production down the stretch has begun to draw comparisons to Jonathan Toews from his biggest admirers in the scouting community.”
Malhotra is officially from Victoria, British Columbia -- but with his dad coaching in the Canucks' system, this would be like joining his home team.
He might not go pro right away. He's committed to play at Boston University in the NCAA ranks.
But he might be good enough to hit the pro ranks immediately.
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