The Vancouver Canucks selected center Caleb Malhotra with the third overall pick at the NHL draft in Buffalo on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The 18-year-old from Toronto recorded 84 points in 67 games for the Ontario Hockey League's Brantford Bulldogs this season, adding 26 points in 15 playoff contests.
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Malhotra's selection fulfills a childhood dream.
He had asked his mother to enroll him with the Canucks a decade ago when his father, Manny Malhotra, played for the team.
"I just thought it was a simple assignment," Malhotra said. "It was just a simple, 'Sign me up.'"
Vancouver originally had the best odds for the top draft lottery spot after a last-place finish in the franchise's 55th season, but dropped to third behind Toronto and San Jose.
Malhotra embraced his father, recently named Vancouver's new head coach, at the KeyBank Center before walking onto the draft stage.
"We were just happy," Malhotra said. "It's the best feeling in the world.
I've never felt anything like this, and that embrace was so comforting."
Top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg were selected with the first two picks before Vancouver's turn.
"Knew as much as anybody on Instagram would, just seeing all the rankings," Malhotra said. "Hearing my name getting called by the Canucks, it felt so good."
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Other Canadian NHL franchises made first-round selections later in the evening.
