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

[frontsfan67]

Playing with 5 first round picks on the roster makes me nervous.

You clearly didn’t watch any games because the only one arguably better than him was Jake O’Brien who went #8 in 2025. Pretty close debate there between a 17 and 18 year old too. Malholtra would go higher in 2025 than O’Brien I’d bet money on it. Brady Martin went 5th overall is it really that shocking that malholtra will be top 5 maybe top 3?

 

[majormajor]

Playing with 5 first round picks on the roster makes me nervous.

His best linemate was a guy named Cooper Dennis. Do you think Cooper Dennis gives Caleb Malhotra an advantage in a way that makes him overrated?

Quality player but i think he could be a more gifted version of his a dad, unsure if that's worth a top 3 pick. His dad also was a top 10 pick based on a lot of the same qualities, including a post season before the draft with a higher points per game than his regular season

Don't ask about Gavin McKenna's dad. That loser didn't even play in the NHL. McKenna bust incoming?

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

His best linemate was a guy named Cooper Dennis. Do you think Cooper Dennis gives Caleb Malhotra an advantage in a way that makes him overrated?

Except on the powerplay where they just stacked the deck up. Malhotra played net front.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

His best linemate was a guy named Cooper Dennis. Do you think Cooper Dennis gives Caleb Malhotra an advantage in a way that makes him overrated?




Don't ask about Gavin McKenna's dad. That loser didn't even play in the NHL. McKenna bust incoming?

What I find crazy is Caleb seems to get docked here because him being good at the less sexy things that actually help teams win, gives off the "safe vibe" while he may be less sexy than others in the draft, he still put up great numbers and has shown he has high-end skill to go with his other solid attributes.

I get this was his first big producing season but development isn't linear.
As a nucks fan who thinks getting EP a winger along with getting rid of the shit system we played will get him back to form and the fact we have Rossi and Cootes I'd draft Ivar but I won't lose sleep over drafting a kid with Caleb's potential.

 

[Kegs]

Playing with 5 first round picks on the roster makes me nervous.

Quality player but i think he could be a more gifted version of his a dad, unsure if that's worth a top 3 pick. His dad also was a top 10 pick based on a lot of the same qualities, including a post season before the draft with a higher points per game than his regular season

Like the player but think he falls to 5-10, and anchors a 2nd line.

Super misleading. His dad was no where near his numbers or talent in juniors. Not even comparable.

 

[majormajor]

What I find crazy is Caleb seems to get docked here because him being good at the less sexy things that actually help teams win, gives off the "safe vibe" while he may be less sexy than others in the draft, he still put up great numbers and has shown he has high-end skill to go with his other solid attributes.

His skill is absolutely tantalizing.

Caleb has some special building block type skills that he can work with. He does a lot of puck protection with the puck through his skates, or using his arms and back to ward off defenders while he gets inside positioning. He's chaining together so many new things with incredible natural athleticism. Some crazy backhand sauce. His passing in general is so underrated, he can figure out a play just from pre-scanning and doesn't give the plan away with his eyes.

People who knock his skill aren't watching.

I get this was his first big producing season but development isn't linear.
As a nucks fan who thinks getting EP a winger along with getting rid of the shit system we played will get him back to form and the fact we have Rossi and Cootes I'd draft Ivar but I won't lose sleep over drafting a kid with Caleb's potential.

I'm not drafting with EP40 in mind, you've got to focus on the next core. Stenberg is going to be elite too though, I'm not knocking him.