One of those pundits who predicted the Canucks would draft Malhotra was Elite Prospect\u2019s Cam Robinson. However, he dropped another report on Friday saying that Malhotra to the Canucks is far from a guarantee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a little nugget come to me there the other day,\u201d Robinson said on Called Up: The Hockey Prospects Podcast.<\/a> \u201cEverybody is really assuming that Vancouver, myself included, is huge on Caleb Mahaltra and that he is a slam dunk at three, even if Ivar [Stenberg] is there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got pushback on that this week. I think that, internally, it sounds like there\u2019s a real split with that new regime in Vancouver.\u201d<\/p>\n Robinson continued to suggest that the split is between three different players.<\/p>\n \u201cOne faction [of Canucks management] is really pro-Ivar, having him at the top of the list. One is really Caleb Maholtra, and then I think Keaton Verhoeff is still in that mix. I think Todd Harvey and some of the top scouts, they\u2019re still really like Verhoeff.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see. But I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a done deal that if Ivar and Malhotra are sitting there, that it\u2019s like, locked and loaded, that it\u2019s going to be Malhotra.\u201d<\/p>\n If Stenberg is available for the Canucks at third overall, he\u2019ll be a hard player to pass on.<\/p>\n Will the Canucks actually pass on Ivar Stenberg if he\u2019s available? (Nick Wosika\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n For most of the season, the Swedish winger was in the conversation at first overall, with the debate all season long<\/a> really being between him and Gavin McKenna.<\/p>\n Stenberg had one of the most prolific seasons by a draft-eligible player in SHL history, finishing his campaign with 33 points in 43 games. Only Daniel and Henrik Sedin had more points historically among draft-eligible SHL players.<\/p>\n The Stenungsund, Sweden native registered 0.76 points per game. That surpassed Henrik\u2019s 0.69 point-per-game mark, and trails only Daniel all-time (0.84).<\/p>\n Stenberg also caught the attention of casual onlookers during the World Championships, where he posted four goals and eight points in eight games. That was third on Sweden\u2019s team behind only Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Lucas Raymond.<\/p>\n HOLY MAMA IVAR STENBERG. \ud83d\udea8 pic.twitter.com\/f8byVVpCJ6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Nathan “Grav” Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) May 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n While Malhotra had a fantastic season in the OHL, his dominance didn\u2019t come against men like Stenberg\u2019s did.<\/p>\n However, if Stenberg is gone by No. 3, Robinson\u2019s report suggests that the Canucks choice will boil down to Malhotra or Verhoeff.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a fascinating tidbit, largely because Verhoeff has seen his stock drop over the second half of the season.<\/p>\n The 6-foot-4 defenceman has an enticing toolkit, mixing strong skating and decent offensive instincts with his large frame. He also has a powerful shot.<\/p>\n However, numerous, glaring defensive mistakes became a calling card of his game over the course of the season with the University of North Dakota. Still, he was one of the youngest players in the league, and doesn\u2019t turn 18 years old until June 19.<\/p>\n Verhoeff garnered attention last season by scoring 21 goals in 63 games with the Victoria Royals of the WHL. He clearly has a high ceiling, even if defencemen such as Chase Reid and Carson Carels have been more highly-touted of late, leading up to the draft.<\/p>\n The nice thing about drafting Verhoeff over Malhotra, though, is that the Canucks wouldn\u2019t have to worry about their No. 3 pick potentially playing for his dad in the future.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"ivar](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780105334_785_ivar-stenberg-canucks.jpg\"\/ "\\"\\"")
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