Caleb Malhotra is far from a consolation prize

The NHL Entry Draft is only four days away, and we know the Chicago Blackhawks fans would love to find a way to select Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg. Whether it’s trading up to ensure you get him, or hoping the San Jose Sharks draft a defenseman second, and the Vancouver Canucks pass up on him at three, adding Stenberg to the mix would be a huge get.

However, there is a very good chance that doesn’t happen, and the Blackhawks are preparing for that exact scenario. One player who could be there for them at No. 4 is center Caleb Malhotra, who would be far from a consolation prize.

Malhotra is Ready for the NHL

Depending on which reports you read, the Canucks are either guaranteed to pick Malhotra or stay clear of him because his father, Manny, is now the head coach. If Stenberg is gone and Malhotra is on board when the Blackhawks are on the clock Friday night, he’s the easy pick.

Malhotra is coming off an incredible season with the Brantford Bulldogs, where the Blackhawks had plenty of eyes on him. He had 29 goals and 84 points in 67 regular-season OHL games. He proved his season was no fluke with 13 goals and 26 points in 15 playoff games. He made a meteoric rise to become the top-rated center in this year’s draft.

“The most mentally-ready, two-way player that I’ve ever seen come through the OHL,” Bulldogs broadcaster Reed Duthie told Jay Zawaski and me on the CHGO Blackhawks Podcast. “You can tell that he is the son of a former NHL player, the son of a former first-round pick in the National Hockey League, and the son of a coach. High-end character and skill, but what’s between the ears is so incredibly special. If you had told me walking into this year that he was 24-years-old and had already played three seasons in the pros, I wouldn’t have batted an eye.”

Don’t Worry About Position

The Blackhawks appear to be set with Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar down the middle, so why would they draft another high-touted center? Say defenseman Chase Reid is already taken, then Malhotra is the best player available. If he turns out to be exactly what many project him to be, you can always move Frondell or Nazar to the wing. Plus, with his commitment to Boston University next year, the Blackhawks will have at least one full season to see how this trio works as the top three centers.

Malhotra’s attention to detail sets him apart from most prospects in this year’s draft. He has a solid defensive game and is getting better offensively with every game. His playmaking ability has him projected as a top-line center in the NHL. There is no pass that he can’t make.

As David St. Louis points out in his fine video scouting report, Malhotra is a well-rounded, complete center. One of the biggest reasons he rose up the board and had such a successful OHL season was his skating improvement. He was left off a lot of preseason draft boards because he didn’t have great pace to his game in the BCHL. If you watched any of Brantford’s postseason run, you saw Malhotra as one of the best skaters on the ice. This just shows his commitment and work ethic to become the best player he can be.

“I really like what Caleb projects to be in the future,” Duthie added. “I think he’s the right guy for the Blackhawks. It seems like they are building a team based around work ethic, hockey IQ, and excitement, and he checks all of those boxes. If I’m the Blackhawks, that’s the guy I want.”

I know a lot of fans will be disappointed if the Blackhawks don’t find a way to get Stenberg. However, if Malhotra is the pick at No. 4, there is no reason to be upset. He has all the tools to be a great NHL center.

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