Overview
- Vancouver used the No. 3 overall pick to select centre Caleb Malhotra, the 18-year-old son of newly promoted Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra.
- Caleb posted 84 points in 67 OHL regular-season games and added 26 points in 15 playoff contests for Brantford, benchmarks scouts cite in support of his upside.
- Team officials and draft coverage characterize him as a smart two-way centre with growing offensive instincts but as a later bloomer who is not yet pro-ready.
- Malhotra is expected to play the 2026–27 season at Boston University, which delays any immediate jump to the NHL and gives Vancouver time to develop him.
- Reaction has been mixed: many analysts say his production justifies a high pick while others note the unusual coach–son relationship raises questions about optics and roster governance.