Another Malhotra family member is headed to Vancouver. With the third pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Friday, June 26 in Buffalo, the Vancouver Canucks selected centre Caleb Malhotra from the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League. Caleb’s dad Manny was recently named as head coach for the Canucks. With the 3rd overall pick, the Vancouver Canucks are proud to select Caleb Malhotra!#NHLDraft | @UberEats pic.twitter.com/G23nrNouwf — Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 26, 2026 “This is unbelievable,” said Manny while being interviewed immediately
after his selection. “So special, I’m so thankful.” He mentioned the importance of his family (his uncle is Canadian basketball legend Steve Nash). “I wouldn’t be here without each and every one of them,” said Malhotra, who also played a season with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. The selection was announced by ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star and Canucks fan Colby Smulders. The Toronto Maple Leafs had the first overall pick, and selected Gavin McKenna, a left winger who played last season with Penn State
of the NCAA, after three seasons with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. McKenna’s selection was introduced by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber. Biebs making it official pic.twitter.com/AuvjdUC7ga — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 26, 2026 With the second pick, the San Jose Sharks selected winger Ivar Stenberg from Frölunda of the Swedish Hockey League. — Will be updated
Vancouver Canucks, Caleb Malhotra, Manny Malhotra, 2026 NHL Entry Draft, No. 3 pick, Brantford Bulldogs, Ontario Hockey League, Buffalo, Gavin McKenna, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ivar Stenberg, San Jose Sharks
So they drafted the coach’s son at 3? That seems kinda wild.
Wait Manny Malhotra is the head coach now and they pick his kid… that just feels nepotism-y. Also Steve Nash is his uncle?? like okay so is this all a connections thing or what.
Colby Smulders introduced the pick?? I thought she was like a celebrity chef or something lol. But if Caleb played for Chilliwack that’s Canada so good for him I guess. Still, Canucks really just yolo’d a 3rd overall on a guy they’ve been around forever.
Bieber did the Maple Leafs pick and now Canucks did the Canucks pick… next thing you know it’s gonna be like the NFL draft with random pop stars. I don’t even follow prospects that much, but a “centere” with a No. 3 pick sounds like they’re trying to make him the next Steve Nash or something? Idk, just seems like a lot of fame involved.