Center
6’0/170
Left
Brantford Bulldogs/OHL
Related: J.P. Hurlbert
Caleb Malholtra is shot up the draft rankings from the beginning of the season, where he was projected to be a late 1st or early 2nd round pick, but now is thought of by many scouts as one of the top centers in the draft. A Major reason for this is because of his performance as the CHL Prospects Challenge, where he was Team CHL’s captain and top line play-driving center. Malhotra is the same kind of two-way centre as his dad, Manny. was during a 991-game NHL playing career. His ability to wait out opponents before making a last-second pass into a scoring lane is unmatched. Malhotra is a great skater who plays a strong two-way game and loves getting involved physically, as well. Malhotra’s hockey IQ is among the best you’ll find in this class, and he’s a tremendous passer, too. Scouts are still wondering if he can be a first-line center – but most say, at minimum, he’ll be a second-liner. Caleb has been a standout player for the Brantford Bulldogs early in the 2025-26 season, showcasing his abilities across the entire 200 feet of the ice surface with sound defense and high-energy offense. He is a high-end two-way centre who looks to hear his name called on the first day of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Size/Strength Average
Skating Average
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Good
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Good
Defensive Excellent
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent
Strength
1. Malholtra has elite Hockey IQ, he reads layers in the defensive structure and attacks seams rather than forcing plays and anticipates puck movement two touches ahea.
2. Known for his two Way Reliability. Center-lane support is automanic and tracks back with purpose, not panic. Stick detail is advanced for his age.
3. Plays under Control at all times. Not a burner, but he’s a pace shifter. Knows when to accelerate, delay, or curl to create space. Coaches trust him in high‑leverage moments because he doesn’t rush decisions.
Areas of Improvement
1. He Needs become more of a shooting threat. Release is clean but lacks deception and urgency. Defenders cheat pass on him at times.
2. Skating in not explosive. Wins races through anticipation, not raw speed.
3. Not soft, but not a natural initiator. Strength gains will help him hold pucks longer under pressure
Scouting Report
Caleb Malholtra is a cerebral, pace‑controlling center who drives play through anticipation, manipulation, and structure. He’s not a highlight‑reel creator — he’s a possession architect, the type who tilts the ice by always being in the right place, making the right read, and sequencing plays with intention. His Skating Stride is efficient and compact, has good postuture and balance, and lacks explosive pop in first three steps. His IQ is the defining eliment of his game both on offense and defense. Offensively, he reads layers in defensive structures, anticipates puck movement two touches ahead and understands spacing intuitively. He has rare ability to slow the game down without stalling possession. Defensively, he’s excellent at center-lane support, tracks back with purpose, not panic. Stick detail is advanced — angles, blade positioning, route efficiency; eads developing threats early. Another elite aspect of his game is his processing speed; he makes decisions early and correctly; he rarely forces plays and coaches trust him in high‑leverage moments. Malholtra has average top speed, above average ability and edgework, but excellent pace manipulation, which makes him tough to contain. Puckhandling is strong in tight spaces, uses deception more than raw flair, and excellent at protecting the puck on entries. His vision is high-end, manipulates defenders with eyes and shoulders, finds weak-side options consistently; prefers controlled entries and east-west creation. Shooting Mechanics are clean, release is quick but not threatening; needs to shoot more, so defenders don’t cheat pass on him. Compete Level is consistent, reliable, detail‑oriented. Although not a natural physical initiator, he wins battles through body positioning and timing rather than brute force. Needs more strength to hold pucks under pressure. What truly makes Caleb Malholtra special is his Leadership and coachability. Teammates gravitate toward him because he stabilizes lines and coaches trust him in late‑game situations. Absorbs tactical adjustments quickly and plays within structure but adds creativity when appropriate. The NHL Comparable for Caleb Malholtra is Nick Suzuki, a celebral two-way center for the Montreal Canadiens. Caleb Malholtra is a very safe pick in the NHL, who has a floor of a reliable 3rd line center who drives possession, kills penalties, and stabilizes a line and the ceiling of a low‑end 1C if the shot threat and explosiveness both take meaningful steps. He should be a top 15 pick in the NHL draft this draft, and many scouts even think is probable that he might be the first center off the board.
Skill: A highly intelligent, responsible and active two-way centre
NHL Comparable: Nick Suzuki
NHL Potential: High-end Second Line Center
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | PTS |
| 2024-25 | Chillwach Chiefs | BCHL | 65 | 13 | 43 |
| 2025-26 | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | 50 | 23 | 64 |
| Team CHL | Prospects Challenge | 3 | 1 | 2 |
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