C Caleb Malhotra - Brantford Bulldogs, OHL (2026 Draft)

[rumrokh]

Dvorsky looks like a winger now.

Based on what? Having played the entire year at center in the NHL?

 

[macbowes]

With the Canucks hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach, it'll be a little bit weird if their 3OA pick is also their head coaches son. It really shouldn't affect their opinion on him, but still.

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

With the Canucks hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach, it'll be a little bit weird if their 3OA pick is also their head coaches son. It really shouldn't affect their opinion on him, but still.

It absolutely should affect it. Caleb should be on the DND list, especially in a 3-6 range where everyone is more or less interchangeable. Just take Carels or Bjorck.

 

[majormajor]

With the Canucks hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach, it'll be a little bit weird if their 3OA pick is also their head coaches son. It really shouldn't affect their opinion on him, but still.

It absolutely should affect it. Caleb should be on the DND list, especially in a 3-6 range where everyone is more or less interchangeable. Just take Carels or Bjorck.

It's not ideal but the bigger picture is that your top drafted players are more important than coaches. You don't not pick a guy who would be on your team for 10+ years because of the coach who is more likely to be there 2-3 years. Manny might be gone before Caleb hits the NHL.

 

[Siludin]

I bet both Manny and Caleb would prefer their careers were separated a bit.

Manny Malhotra would be in a great position to resign if they picked his son, and he would look good for it. They had a crappy season but he'll always have the Calder Cup. If anyone wants to give him an NHL job now, it would be good for him to go to a different struggling team before returning to the Canucks later when they are contenders

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It absolutely should affect it. Caleb should be on the DND list, especially in a 3-6 range where everyone is more or less interchangeable. Just take Carels or Bjorck.

You'll take Caleb and like it.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

With the Canucks hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach, it'll be a little bit weird if their 3OA pick is also their head coaches son. It really shouldn't affect their opinion on him, but still.

Tells me they likely don't have Caleb in their top 3. Wonder if they're leaning towards Bjorck or Lawrence if they don't pick a D.

Either that, or they have solid intel that says SJ is taking Reid and the Sedins plan to take Stenberg.

 

[beachcomber]

It absolutely should affect it. Caleb should be on the DND list, especially in a 3-6 range where everyone is more or less interchangeable. Just take Carels or Bjorck.

No, if he is the guy then they should draft him. They have already said as much.

 

[57special]

VAN is relatively well set up with young D with Buium, and Willander. I mean, they could always use another, but where they really need help is up front. If Malhotra is "the guy" you take him. I think that there is a vg chance that SJS take a Dman at #2, which would have Stenberg in play, anyway. VAN can always work a deal with SJS to exchange 1st rounders, also. That would be good work for both teams. SJS could really use a top 1st pairing prospect, VAN a talented forward, whether it be a C or not.

 

[Bobby Digital]

I genuinely don't understand why hiring Manny makes Caleb un-draftable by Canucks now. These guys are professionals, if Manny can't handle having Caleb on the team then he shouldn't be the coach.

In the NBA we've seen Doc Rivers coach his son and there was no issues. I don't think this will prevent the Canucks drafting Caleb at all.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

I genuinely don't understand why hiring Manny makes Caleb un-draftable by Canucks now. These guys are professionals, if Manny can't handle having Caleb on the team then he shouldn't be the coach.

In the NBA we've seen Doc Rivers coach his son and there was no issues. I don't think this will prevent the Canucks drafting Caleb at all.

I don't think it effect if they draft him or not and if Ivar is gone he's likely who they go with.
My issue and it might be a total non issue is more about how Caleb will handle the added pressure and optics that may go along with being the coaches son.

I'm sure management will take everything into account and make the right choice.

 

[NVious]

Here's a summary of where is ranked on different mock drafts (from Elite Prospects)

6
out of top 16
4
15
5
4
out of top 10
6 (among NA, can average this to be a 12 with EU)
7
5
3
12
20

Around a 7.5-8.5 average.



I'd rather just take Stenberg all things considered, if they really want him they can just call every team after if he's available and offer Minny first and four 2nds. I still don't see why they're so dead set on him though, especially considering Stenberg's pedigree (#1 pick for a good portion of the pre draft rankings) and the fact that it's not as if Rossi and Cootes have zero upside to be a low end 1C or great 2C.

 

[AquiliniHurtsMySoul]

If Stenberg is on the board, he is the no brainer pick. Passing would be a mistake.

 

[UrbanImpact]

Finally turns 18 today

7-8 months younger than Stenberg. Thats pretty much an entire hockey season.

Caleb's potential is sky high given his development trajectory and his age.

Stenberg's is as well , dont get me wrong, but youd have to factor in that he played this entire season as an 18 yr old.

This is why drafting isnt an exact science.

To me its a toss up on who's going to be me more valuable in 5 years between Stenberg, Bjork, Malhotra.

Canucks just gotta make sure they end up with one of them and turn it over to the development team and hope for the best.

 

[Icebreakers]

Here's a summary of where is ranked on different mock drafts (from Elite Prospects)

6
out of top 16
4
15
5
4
out of top 10
6 (among NA, can average this to be a 12 with EU)
7
5
3
12
20

Around a 7.5-8.5 average.



I'd rather just take Stenberg all things considered, if they really want him they can just call every team after if he's available and offer Minny first and four 2nds. I still don't see why they're so dead set on him though, especially considering Stenberg's pedigree (#1 pick for a good portion of the pre draft rankings) and the fact that it's not as if Rossi and Cootes have zero upside to be a low end 1C or great 2C.

A lot of those are outdated, and scouching isn't a legitimate scouting service.

He's enamoured with one style or type of player (fast guy with pace and good puck skills)

He's shown time and time again he prefers this profile of player.

Examples include

Brad Lambert (ranked 3rd),
Mathis Preston (ranked top 3 for majority of the year),
Victor Eklund (ranked 4th),
Will Eklund (ranked 2nd),
Fabian Lysell (ranked 4th)
Lawrence (ranked 3rd)

He had guys like Eklund and Potter ahead of Frondell and Martone (lol).

After his playoff run, he's usually ranked anywhere from 3-7.

If he goes 3rd it's not a reach by any means. Now if you wanna argue taking him over Stenberg that's another argument in itself and I agree Stenberg is consensus over him in public rankings.

 

[NVious]

A lot of those are outdated, and scouching isn't a legitimate scouting service.

He's enamoured with one style or type of player (fast guy with pace and good puck skills)

He's shown time and time again he prefers this profile of player.

Examples include

Brad Lambert (ranked 3rd),
Mathis Preston (ranked top 3 for majority of the year),
Victor Eklund (ranked 4th),
Will Eklund (ranked 2nd),
Fabian Lysell (ranked 4th)
Lawrence (ranked 3rd)

He had guys like Eklund and Potter ahead of Frondell and Martone (lol).

After his playoff run, he's usually ranked anywhere from 3-7.

If he goes 3rd it's not a reach by any means. Now if you wanna argue taking him over Stenberg that's another argument in itself and I agree Stenberg is consensus over him in public rankings.

Fair enough, those are good points, but what stood out to me based on what he said is the facts (not personal bias) that his jump is coming from a playoff run on a stacked team which are two major factors that cannot be disputed. If I have Rossi+Cootes, I'm not chancing it as the Canucks, there's no reason to go for anything even slightly crazy here and take the guy you are fortunate to get at 3 all things considered, especially considering that for a good chunk of the season the point of tanking was to get #1....aka....Stenberg. Why reach at all when a guy that some are still arguing for at 1 is there at 3?

 

[hockeeyyy]

Tells me they likely don't have Caleb in their top 3. Wonder if they're leaning towards Bjorck or Lawrence if they don't pick a D.

Either that, or they have solid intel that says SJ is taking Reid and the Sedins plan to take Stenberg.

For what it's worth, there's chatter that Bjorck is NHL-ready. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, as I've watched very little of him, but that seems to be the general consensus.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

For what it's worth, there's chatter that Bjorck is NHL-ready. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, as I've watched very little of him, but that seems to be the general consensus.

He could definitely step in right away as a middle 6 C. He's got the smarts, compete, skating, and strength on the puck to survive. I think he's probably better off playing another year in a league where he'll have the time and space to get more offensive reps in, but he wouldn't look out of place in the NHL today.

 

[sxvnert]

No way the Canucks can justify taking Malhotra over Stenberg if McKenna and Reid are selected 1 & 2. Malhotra over Reid can be justified.

 

[QJL]

I don't think there is any justification for Malhotra at 3. That would likely end up being a devastating pick for the Canucks.

 

[ToDavid]

No, if he is the guy then they should draft him. They have already said as much.

It's not necessarily the pick that's the issue, Malhotra is clearly a bonafide top pick and I don't think it'd be a huge shock if he went at #3.

The question is what happens after. Is Malhotra capable of being objective when he's assessing the roster, determining playing time, power play usage? And even if he is, even the potential appearance of favouritsm (even if there is none) could rub other players the wrong way. What about when the coach has to be the bad guy, could that strain Malhotra's (the player) relationship with other members of the team? What if Malhotra (the coach) doesn't work out and is fired. Does that strain the relationship between the organization and the player? The average coaching tenure is something like 4 years. Ideally you'd like the tenure of a top 3 pick to be significantly longer than that.

If he was the surefire, not even close, #3 pick then I'm sure you could deal with all of that. But if it's a toss up, and it looks like it is, I've got to imagine Vancouver would consider these types of things as a potential tiebreaker.

 

[QJL]

It's not necessarily the pick that's the issue, Malhotra is clearly a bonafide top pick and I don't think it'd be a huge shock if he went at #3.

The question is what happens after. Is Malhotra capable of being objective when he's assessing the roster, determining playing time, power play usage? And even if he is, even the potential appearance of favouritsm (even if there is none) could rub other players the wrong way. What about when the coach has to be the bad guy, could that strain Malhotra's (the player) relationship with other members of the team? What if Malhotra (the coach) doesn't work out and is fired. Does that strain the relationship between the organization and the player? The average coaching tenure is something like 4 years. Ideally you'd like the tenure of a top 3 pick to be significantly longer than that.

I agree with all of this. Picking a first time coach and reaching for his son at the #3 overall pick is a recipe for disaster. Huge risk that could end in reversion to a second rebuild in the near future.

 

[centipede2233]

I wonder if it goes mckenna and Reid the Canucks make a deal for Chicago 4th overall plus something to give their 3rd overall. I say this because stenberg would be the guy Chicago would want and malhotra being the guy Canucks want

 

[kmwtrucks]

I wonder if it goes mckenna and Reid the Canucks make a deal for Chicago 4th overall plus something to give their 3rd overall. I say this because stenberg would be the guy Chicago would want and malhotra being the guy Canucks want

was rumored that chicago likes both. doubt we would give up much

 

[timw33]

I wonder if it goes mckenna and Reid the Canucks make a deal for Chicago 4th overall plus something to give their 3rd overall. I say this because stenberg would be the guy Chicago would want and malhotra being the guy Canucks want

Canucks hiring of Maholtra's father likely changes the calculus and I would expect that were that situation to unfold they would be taking Stenberg all day.