How former Rangers center gets shut down by son, top NHL Draft prospect
Manny Malhotra was a first-round draft pick by the New York Rangers in 1998, and played 16 distinguished seasons in the NHL. But that doesn’t stop his 17-year-old son Caleb from trash talking dad when it comes to comparing their hockey skill sets.
It’s all familial fun, of course, but there lies some truth in what’s at the heart of Caleb’s digs at his father. Where Manny never scored more than 16 goals in major junior, and totaled 116 in 991 NHL games, Caleb projects to be a more skilled offensive player.
“The defensive responsibility is kind of one [similar] thing,” Caleb told TSN this week. “He was really well-known for his face-offs and defense. So, being positionally sound and positionally smart and then being able to check guys and be physical when needed.
“I think my offense is a bit higher than his and I let him know that too (laugh), just fooling around the house. But, yeah, I think my offense kind of separates me.”
How does dad react such precociousness from his boy?
“He doesn’t really have a comeback (laugh). That’s my finishing blow every time. I like to say that one.”
Malhotra scored 29 goals with Brantford this season, his first in the OHL, and was second on the team with 84 points in 67 games. The 6-foot-2, 182-pound center exploded in the OHL playoffs, currently tied for second in the league with 13 goals and 26 points in 15 postseason games. Brantford let a 3-1 lead slip away and dropped it’s best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final to Barrie.
Lacking a highly-skilled two-way center in their prospect pool, you’d think that the Rangers would love to land Malhotra in the upcoming draft. However, the Rangers dropped two spots to No. 5 overall in the NHL Draft Lottery, and Malhotra could be off the board by time New York’s on the clock.
And it could be one of his dad’s other former teams that could land Malhotra instead of the Rangers. Assuming the Toronto Maple Leafs select Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick, and the San Jose Sharks take a defenseman — let’s say Chase Reid — second overall, that gives the Vancouver Canucks a chance to pick Malhotra at No. 3.
This has quite the appeal for Caleb, who was a little boy when Manny played for the Canucks from 2010-13.
“Obviously, I’ve thought about it,” Caleb admitted. “Growing up in Vancouver, going back home would be really cool. That’s the team I’ve cheered for most of my life. And then my dad being a part of that organization (head coach for their AHL affiliate in Abbottsford), it would be interesting. It’s a weird feeling. It’s pretty cool, though. But, I mean, there’s a long way to go, so we’ll see what happens on draft night.”
Like the Rangers, the Canucks have a dearth of organizational talent and come off two terribly disappointing seasons after a very successful 2023-24 campaign. The Canucks finished last in the League in 2025-26, but, like the Rangers, fell back two spots in the draft lottery when the Maple Leafs and Sharks moved up.
The Canucks certainly can use Malhotra, but it might be too difficult to pass on Ivar Stenberg, the stud forward from Sweden, or one of a plethora of intriguing defensemen available that early in the draft. Even if the Canucks pass on Manny’s son, the Chicago Blackhawks could snatch him up at No. 4, just ahead of the Rangers selection.
If Malhotra is there when the Rangers are on the clock, it’d be an exciting option for Chris Drury and Co. But perhaps not a slam dunk, since there are so many other solid options for the Rangers to consider.
No matter which team selects him, Malhotra already committed to Boston University next season. His father, the No. 7 overall pick in 1998, went straight to the NHL, played 73 games with the Rangers as an 18-year-old rookie in 1998-99, and impressed with eight goals and 16 points in limited ice time. The following season he bounced between the NHL, AHL, OHL, and represented Canada at the World Junior Championship.
The Rangers traded Manny to the Dallas Stars on March 12, 2002. He also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sharks, Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Montreal Canadiens before retiring after the 2014-15 season.
When asked if there are bragging rights about who’ll be the higher draft pick, him or his dad, Caleb laughed.
“Definitely. I think he’s rooting for me to go higher, but I’m still going to rub it in if I do!”
