Daily Faceoff’s latest NHL-affiliated prospect rankings put four Vancouver Canucks in the top 75, with Caleb Malhotra leading the way at No. 8.
Malhotra, the Canucks’ recent third overall pick, made a big jump after leaving the BCHL for the OHL last season. Once he got to Brantford, his production surged: 29 goals and 84 points in 67 regular-season games, then 13 goals and 26 points in 15 playoff games before the Bulldogs were knocked out in Game 7 by the Barrie Colts.
Steven Ellis was especially high on the center’s complete game, calling him “the undisputed top center of the 2026 draft.” He also pointed to Malhotra’s hockey IQ, his two-way reliability, and the way he controlled games for Brantford.
Braeden Cootes landed at No. 46, climbing 22 spots from Ellis’ 2025 rankings after a season that took him through several different settings. He spent time with the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Prince Albert Raiders, and Team Canada at the World Juniors, handling different roles along the way.
Ellis noted that Cootes opened the year with the big club for a three-game stint before returning to the WHL, where he put up 63 points in 45 games between Seattle and Prince Albert. He also scored twice for Canada at the World Junior tournament.
Ellis sees Abbotsford as a strong fit for Cootes if he heads to the AHL, saying, “I think Abbotsford is the perfect home for Cootes, who can focus on maintaining a top-six role before making a full-time push in 2027-28.”
Adam Novotný checked in at No. 48 after being selected 24th overall by Vancouver at the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1 Czech winger had a productive year in Peterborough of the OHL, finishing with 34 goals and 65 points in 58 games. He also wore the C for Czechia at the U20 Five Nations tournament, where he scored five goals and six points in four games.
Ellis described Novotný as “a rugged, heavy-playing forward equipped with a solid shot release,” and praised the chances he created around the net. He also said the Canucks’ first-round pick projects as “a high-impact, top-six power forward at the NHL level - someone in more of the 40-50-point range.”
Jonathan Lekkerimäki rounded out Vancouver’s group at No. 74, dropping 28 spots from his 2025 ranking after an injury-hit season. The 22-year-old Swede was limited to 34 games between the NHL and AHL, but he still produced 13 goals and 20 points in 21 games with Abbotsford under Manny Malhotra.
Ellis made clear he still believes there’s a real scoring profile there, saying, “But with the puck, there isn’t a better shooter in Vancouver’s system. I want Lekkerimäki to get a real chance with the big club this year - give him a scoring role, please.”
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Canucks Fans Just Got An Early Look At Malhotras Fixes
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For a team trying to sharpen its identity under a new head coach, those early assignments offer an immediate glimpse at how Malhotra wants the bench to function. The details matter because the coaching staff will be working with the group soon, and the way those duties are divided should give the Canucks a more defined plan as camp gets underway. [Read more 🡒]