Canucks Draft Dilemma
Canucks face pivotal 2026 draft decision with Malhotra, Reid, and Carels as options.
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The Vancouver Canucks hold the third overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo on Friday night — and the choice they make could define the franchise for a decade. With the San Jose Sharks expected to take Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg at No. 2, Vancouver faces a three-way split between a coach's son, a dynamic defenseman, and a steadier blueliner, according to Edmonton Journal.
The stakes could not be higher. Vancouver finished dead last in the NHL this season with a 25-49-8 record, according to Calgary Herald. It is the seventh time in franchise history the Canucks have slid down in the draft lottery — a streak that has left their fanbase deeply frustrated.
A New Regime Faces Its First Big Test
The Canucks' front office is brand new. Ryan Johnson was hired as General Manager on May 14. He replaced a regime that missed the playoffs badly. Then, on June 1, Manny Malhotra was named the 23rd head coach in franchise history, according to Sault Star. Malhotra led the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to a franchise-record 44 wins. He is a former Canucks forward known for elite faceoff play.
Malhotra was clear about the mission from day one. "This is a mission to change a franchise," he said, according to Ottawa Citizen. But his hiring added a huge complication. His son, Caleb Malhotra, is one of the top players available at No. 3. Vancouver could end up drafting its own head coach's son.
Caleb Malhotra's Rise from Late Pick to Top-Three Talent
Caleb Malhotra was not always a top prospect. He started as a projected late first-rounder after a modest stint in the BCHL. Then he exploded. The 6-foot-2 center posted 84 points — 29 goals and 55 assists — in 67 games for the Brantford Bulldogs this season, according to Hanna Herald. That production shot him into the top-three conversation fast.
Scouts call him a natural two-way center with elite defensive instincts. His bloodlines are hard to ignore too. His mother is the sister of NBA legend Steve Nash, according to Clinton News Record. Caleb himself said, "[My father] is the reason I started playing hockey." Supporters say he was "born to be a top NHL center." Critics ask if a specialist penalty-killing center is a high enough ceiling for the third pick overall.
Reid and Carels Offer Blue-Line Answers Vancouver Desperately Needs
Chase Reid is ranked second among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Carson Carels is ranked third, according to Leader Post. Reid is a 6-foot-2.5 right-handed defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie. Right-handed defensemen are the rarest and most coveted asset in the game. TSN analyst Craig Button says Reid has "that dynamic skill" and that picking him is "betting on the top end."
Carels is seen as the safer choice. The WHL defenseman from Prince George is praised for smooth skating and a "mean streak" that scouts love, according to The Sudbury Star. Some analysts argue Carels is steadier and better suited to anchor a blue line that was physically dominated all season. But others say Reid brings an offensive punch that Carels simply cannot match.
A Wildcard From San Jose Could Flip Everything
The entire situation rests on what San Jose does at No. 2. The Sharks are expected to take Stenberg, but reports suggest they are "open to trading" the pick or selecting Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits instead, according to Fort Saskatchewan Record. If San Jose pivots away from Stenberg, Vancouver could suddenly face an even harder choice between the draft's best winger and its coach's son.
The pick is expected around 7:45 PM ET Friday. GM Ryan Johnson has emphasized building the team in a "sustainable" way. Taking a defenseman like Reid signals a commitment to building from the back. Taking Caleb Malhotra focuses on down-the-middle strength — the traditional foundation of Stanley Cup winners. Either way, according to Owen Sound Sun Times, this choice will echo for years in Vancouver.
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