Vancouver Canucks Draft Plans Take Shocking Twist

The Vancouver Canucks' draft plans for Caleb Malhotra, son of new head coach Manny Malhotra, have taken a shocking twist. Caleb Malhotra seems made for the Vancouver Canucks, but it may not actually happen later this week. NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period writes that he's not expecting the Vancouver Canucks to select Caleb Malhotra with the third-overall selection, if he's available. This would certainly go against the general assumptions all along. And Manny Malhotra's son can play, with Thomas Drance of The Athletic noting that Malhotra has been on a rocket ship trajectory late in his draft year. He's 6-2, has plus wheels, and is a conscientious, physically assertive two-way center. The Canucks may simply want to avoid any concerns about conflicts of interest. They also may have determined that they simply like a few other guys more. Either way, Malhotra will be chosen quite early, and he's committed to play college hockey at Boston University. But for now, it seems less likely that he'll be playing for his dad. The 2026 NHL Draft is expected to have a bit of uncertainty in the top handful of spots, and the Canucks will have to make a tough decision. Caleb Malhotra's production down the stretch has begun to draw comparisons to Jonathan Toews from his biggest admirers in the scouting community. The Canucks will have to weigh their options carefully, and consider what's best for the team. So the question remains, will the Vancouver Canucks draft Caleb Malhotra, or will they go in a different direction?