Caleb Malhotra Scouted as Top Center in the 2026 NHL Draft
By James Moreau | 26 Jun, 2026

The son of NHL veteran Manny Malhotra is projected to be selected in the top five of the NHL Draft.

At only 17, Caleb Malhotra has established himself as one of the top prospects entering the 2026 NHL Draft.  An elite two-way player of Indian descent, his proactive lane disruptions and elite playmaking have led scouts to compare his talents to established NHL stars like Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Toews.

Malhotra’s steady play has earned him the #6 spot among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, while Sportsnet’s veteran NHL scout Jason Bukala ranked him as his #3 overall prospect.  The 6’2”, 183-pound center comes from a premium athletic lineage, being the son of former NHL veteran Manny Malhotra.

Recent mock drafts underscore his status as the consensus top center available, making him highly coveted by front offices selecting at the top of the board.  The Athletic projects Malhotra to go No. 3 overall to the Vancouver Canucks – the franchise where his father famously played.  Meanwhile, Bleacher Report links him to the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 4 pick.  He has also been heavily connected to the New York Rangers, who drafted his father in 1998.  The Rangers, who had the third-best odds for the top pick, slid down to the No. 5 selection in the draft lottery, potentially putting them out of range to select Malhotra.

He spent this past season starring for the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League, where he recorded 29 goals and 55 assists in 67 regular season games, and added another 26 points in 15 playoff games.  Before joining the league, he played for the Chilliwack Chiefs.

While Malhotra holds a commitment to Boston University for the 2026–27 season, his status as a projected top-five pick makes it highly likely he will bypass the collegiate route to turn professional immediately after the draft.