C Caleb Malhotra - Vaughan Kings, GTHL U15 (2026 Draft)

[Bubbles]

Nope. And Brantford holds those rights now

Can he apply for an exemption since his whole family moved here to BC?

 

[frontsfan67]

Can he apply for an exemption since his whole family moved here to BC?

I don’t believe so. Only way he could ever end up in the WHL is by passing through the waivers of the whole OHL and then after that I think it is whoever has the fewest points with the 2 leagues WHL and QMJHL would get dibs.

He won’t ever play WHL hockey- Brantford will not put him on waivers. They hold the rights typically until the players age out I believe

 

[Kingpin794]

I'm pretty sure Malholtra would have bolted had not his dad and family are now in Abbottsford.

The Chiefs lost 6 players so far. And really good ones too.

My question is, if Kingston owns his rights, can those rights be traded to a WHL team? I could see Malholtra signing with the Giants given the proximity.

No but his rights can get moved AGAIN to someone he does want to play for. He's almost certainly going to find his way into the OHL. Just maybe not for Brantford although its not a bad situation to go into. They should be a solid team next season.

 

[frontsfan67]

No but his rights can get moved AGAIN to someone he does want to play for. He's almost certainly going to find his way into the OHL. Just maybe not for Brantford although its not a bad situation to go into. They should be a solid team next season.

His family wants him in the OHL and was supportive of him doing that but he wants to be with his family.

 

[Kingpin794]

His family wants him in the OHL and was supportive of him doing that but he wants to be with his family.

He may feel that way now but a lot can change between now and September of 2025.

 

[Bubbles]

I don’t believe so. Only way he could ever end up in the WHL is by passing through the waivers of the whole OHL and then after that I think it is whoever has the fewest points with the 2 leagues WHL and QMJHL would get dibs.

He won’t ever play WHL hockey- Brantford will not put him on waivers. They hold the rights typically until the players age out I believe

So I've been doing some research here, and you are partly right. If he goes on waivers, and clears, he is "free agent" and can sign with any other CHL club.

That would mean that every other OHL plays ball and doesn't file a claim. But the scenario exists where Caleb can say he will not report to any OHL club, and make it clear he wants to play in the WHL near his family. I don't see any OHL teams doing this just to spite him. After all, he's just a kid that wants to play near home.

 

[frontsfan67]

So I've been doing some research here, and you are partly right. If he goes on waivers, and clears, he is "free agent" and can sign with any other CHL club.

That would mean that every other OHL plays ball and doesn't file a claim. But the scenario exists where Caleb can say he will not report to any OHL club, and make it clear he wants to play in the WHL near his family. I don't see any OHL teams doing this just to spite him. After all, he's just a kid that wants to play near home.

Oh that’s how it works I always thought it went based off the number of points in the chl after the OHL teams have had their chance. That makes more sense. I am not sure if this scenario has ever happened before. I assume it won’t but maybe malholtra is the first it could happen for?

 

[Bubbles]

Oh that’s how it works I always thought it went based off the number of points in the chl after the OHL teams have had their chance. That makes more sense. I am not sure if this scenario has ever happened before. I assume it won’t but maybe malholtra is the first it could happen for?

So from what I've found...

Mike Hoffman played 2 games for Kitchener, put on waivers, cleared and signed with Gatineau.

Rodrigo Abols played a season and two games for Portland, cleared waivers, and signed with Acadie-Bathhurst.

Both slightly different but almost the same scenario.

 

[frontsfan67]

So from what I've found...

Mike Hoffman played 2 games for Kitchener, put on waivers, cleared and signed with Gatineau.

Rodrigo Abols played a season and two games for Portland, cleared waivers, and signed with Acadie-Bathhurst.

Both slightly different but almost the same scenario.

Good to know! Wow that would be pretty interesting seeing that happen

 

[Bubbles]

Good to know! Wow that would be pretty interesting seeing that happen

Yes, I'll update the situation here if something changes. He might stick it out for the year and see what happens next year, but the situation here in the BCHL is chaotic right now with players leaving every day.

The Chiefs have lost 6 players already; bonus is that now Malholtra is going to get a ton of ice time by default.