Caleb Malhotra had a meteoric rise up draft boards this year, finishing as one of the top scorers and leading forwards on a loaded veteran Bulldogs squad. As an OHL rookie, Malhotra showed impressive two-way acumen and smarts, earning progressively more ice time throughout the season and finishing as a key cog on the top powerplay unit and as a top six centre who produced away from his elite teammates.
Malhotra’s ability to protect the puck under pressure and through physical play is high-end, allowing him to win puck battles along the boards and show patience looking for the optimal play. He’s very strong on the puck and has the quick hands to capitalize on his fast reads and high hockey IQ, making him a dual threat and a versatile offensive zone player. His awareness at both ends is strong and his physicality is high level, making him a safe bet to remain at centre as a professional. While he has decent feet and is a solid straight-line skater, Malhotra’s calling card is his ability to make quick decisions and play at a fast pace despite a lack of breakaway speed. He is the most well-rounded centre in the class and a strong candidate to go within the first ten picks of the 2026 Draft.