The 2026 NHL Draft is already generating a good amount of discussion when it comes to the top of the board. Is Gavin McKenna still the favourite or will Ivar Stenberg continue to rise up and claim that spot? Who will be the next defender off the board and can Chase Reid close the gap on Keaton Verhoeff?
When it comes to the centre position it looked like Tynan Lawrence was going to be the first one off the board, however, Brantford Bulldogs centre and son of former NHLer Manny, Caleb Malhotra has continued to rise up through the rankings all season and looks to have surpassed him. Even when it came to Ontario Hockey League skaters, Ethan Belchetz looked to be the one to go first and Reid has now taken over, but Malhotra has definitely risen to that label as well.Â
Malhotra is proving that he’s the best draft-eligible player in his league and has continued to move up boards and push beyond top-10 territory.
Why Malhotra Has the Edge
Coming into this season, Malhotra was already knocking on the door as a first-round selection. Where he would go would ultimately depend on how the season went and so far, he has been a model of consistency to this point. With Jake O’Brien out at the start attending NHL camp and even with players like Adam Benak and Jett Luchanko going to the World Junior Hockey Championship, Malhotra continues to elevate his play as a dominant offensive producer with a sound and effective two-way game.Â
After spending a season in the BCHL with the Chilliwack Chiefs, Malhotra made the move to the OHL this season before going to Boston University next season. 42 games in as a rookie skater, he’s currently tied for second overall with 59 points. He currently tied for first in points among rookie skaters, is first in assists (38) and second in goals (21) behind only Nikita Klepov. His 1.37 point per game rate puts him tied for 10th in the league and has 18 multi-point games including a five-point performance in just his third game of the season. He has stood out in major showcases like the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge and OHL Top Prospects Game no matter what game he’s playing in, he’s the best performer. Â
Caleb Malhotra, Brantford Bulldogs (Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images)
At 17, Malhotra’s intelligence, quick pace, dominance and ability to intercept plays and create them instantly makes him an intriguing player. He’s competitive and can do it all on both sides of the puck and it will always yield positive results, which is what teams are looking for in a top line centre. The way he reads the play depending on the situation he’s in makes him effective as that is a major strength to his game.Â
There’s a reason why he’s fifth on my rankings. The instincts of knowing when he can pressure players and make high-end plays without breaking stride is impressive. If he has the puck, he will be deceptive, control the pace, open lanes up easily and can attack you head on. Without it, he’s physical, provides support, chases loose pucks and pounces on them quickly as he can easily use his speed to adapt to situations as he can turn on a dime or turn on the jets and win those loose puck battles.
Related: 2026 NHL Draft: Sorting Out the Goalie Class
While the battle to be the top OHL player continues, Malhotra is showing why he deserves to be that guy ahead of Reid and Belchetz. Reid definitely has the aggressive and offensive game that teams want in a right shot defender. Those players are hard to come by, but that can get him into trouble defensively at times. Belchetz is a monster power forward that can bully his way to the middle. Even when it comes to the battle with Lawrence, while both appear to be on the same page, Malhotra seems to have the upper hand with his high-end skill set and has been slightly more consistent so far this season.
Breaking Down Malhotra’s Strengths
At every point I watched Malhotra play, I was always impressed as he was the one to stand out the most. Whether it’s taking control of a play in league play or going against the best in major showcases, he was always noticeable.Â
There are plenty of aspects to his game that makes him successful on the ice and this section will break that down. Whether it’s his quick speed off the rush, his patience and ability to pull off moves with hands and puck control and deception in one-on-one situations, he’ll burn you. This first clip, an end-to-end rush, encompasses everything in his game.
Malhotra grabs the puck and comes flying from around the net with a great burst of speed. Defenders are already in a pinch and caught off guard at how quick and easily he’s able to get through the neutral zone. He shows that deceptiveness with his movement and spots the open lane. He enters the offensive zone and makes a simple move on an opposing player to cut to the outside. The defender thought he was going one way, but he quickly changed directions. He then makes an attack towards the net and while he’s not on the best of angles, he gets a shot off and picks the top corner to complete the impressive rush goal.Â
Related: Top 3 Finnish Skaters on the NHL Central Scouting 2026 Draft Board
Here’s another identical goal with that exact same speed, pace and drive to the middle. This time he’s able to cut through two opposing players and with his agility, he uses that open space to drive past the defenders and break free from them.Â
This clip doesn’t result in a goal, but it shows Malhotra’s patience, deceptiveness, hands and ability to stay with the puck even when getting knocked down. He doesn’t give up, maintains possession and still manages to get entry into the zone with a crowd around him and finds a way to dish it off to his teammate for a shot on goal.Â
Coming into the season, Malhotra was going to be a first-round pick. So far this season, he has quickly vaulted his draft stock not just being a top-10 pick, but potentially higher than that. He’s a smart and skilled centre that can do it all and he proved that he’s the OHL’s top skater for the draft. He continues to impress and will continue to get a lot of attention down this stretch.
