Overview
- The Canucks used the No. 3 overall pick on Saturday to select center Caleb Malhotra, making him the franchise’s highest draft choice since 1999.
- Caleb Malhotra recorded 84 points in 67 OHL regular-season games and added 26 points in 15 playoff contests, and he is expected to play the 2026–27 season at Boston University.
- The pick places Manny Malhotra’s son as Vancouver’s top prospect and has drawn debate about impartiality despite the team’s public assurances that the choice was based on talent.
- Scouts and analysts are divided: many praise Caleb’s playmaking, finishing and defensive habits, while others note he is a later bloomer and further from NHL readiness than most top-three picks.
- The selection is likely to shape short-to-medium-term roster moves because the Canucks may avoid adding long-term centers and could explore trading established centers to clear a path for Caleb when he turns pro.