Caleb Malhotra
Center · VAN · NCAA

Caleb Malhotra

Age
18
Height
6'2"
Weight
182 lb
Shoots
L
Drafted
2026, round 1, 3rd overall
Born
CAN
2026-27
NCAA · Boston Univ.
Games
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Prospect score · 2026-27
Blue chip

18th of 1,160 prospects in the NHLnew

1st in the VAN system · 1st among its forwards

+1.4WAR a season if he sticks
Outlook
NHL odds89%Becomes a full-time NHL player — 200 games by 26
Impact odds50%Better than the typical NHL regular among forwards
Arrival2027-28The season his comps who made it typically became regulars
WAR a season if he sticks+0.3+1.4+2.2Low, middle and high outcomes among his comparables who became regulars

Of the 10 players most like him at the same point in their development, 8 became full-time NHL players.

Development

His scoring, converted to an NHL equivalent, against every player his age and position that season. Zero is the average player his age; the band is where his comparables were at each age.

-10+1+21617Age2024-25, age 16, 44 GP: -0.60 vs. his age group (0.07 NHL-equivalent points per game)2025-26, age 17, 67 GP: +0.99 vs. his age group (0.22 NHL-equivalent points per game)
HimMiddle half of his comps at that ageAverage player his age
Comparables

Past prospects at the same position and the same stage after their draft, matched on draft slot, age, size and league-adjusted production. What they became is already known. The outcome is judged at 26: 200 NHL games by then makes a regular.

#PlayerMatchNHL GP by 26Career NHL GPOutcomeWAR a season
1Elias Pettersson2017 · #5 · at 1852%545554Regular+2.52
2Jonathan Huberdeau2011 · #3 · at 1851%536962Regular+1.61
3Ryan Strome2011 · #5 · at 1850%491923Regular+0.29
4Sam Bennett2014 · #4 · at 1846%546775Regular+0.47
5Brett Connolly2010 · #6 · at 1846%427536Regular+0.62
6Michael Dal Colle2014 · #5 · at 1846%112112Did not stick—
7Lias Andersson2017 · #7 · at 1844%110110Did not stick—
8Cody Glass2017 · #6 · at 1844%322329Regular+0.49
9Alexander Burmistrov2010 · #8 · at 1843%348348Regular+0.26
10Nazem Kadri2009 · #7 · at 1841%4881069Regular+2.24
Season by season
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM
2026-27NCAA · Boston Univ.21012
2025-26Prospects Challenge · Team CHL31124
2025-26OHL · Brantford Bulldogs6729558451
2024-25BCHL · Chilliwack Chiefs448182623
2023-24U16 AAA · Vaughan Kings U16 AAA4823254826
2023-24OHL Cup · Vaughan Kings U16 AAA72352
2023-24GTHL U16 · Vaughan Kings U16 AAA219101916
2022-23WSI U15 · CCM ALL OUT U1592572
2017-18Brick Invitational · BC Junior Canucks162460

The prospect score is a percentile of his expected outcome among every prospect in the league: the chance he becomes a regular, times how good his comparables who did became against others at their position. A player who never sticks counts as zero, which is why a long shot with a high ceiling can rank below a safe bet. All Sabres prospects · How the rankings work