With the 2026 NHL Draft set for June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, attention is turning to two leading prospects, defenseman Chase Reid and center Caleb Malhotra, who were featured on a recent episode of the NHL Draft Class podcast.
Top NHL Draft Prospects: Chase Reid and Caleb Malhotra
Reid, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound blueliner from Sault Ste. Marie in the Ontario Hockey League, is viewed by NHL Central Scouting’s Nick Smith as a near-complete player. Smith highlighted Reid’s strong skating, dependable defense, playmaking ability, and potential to run a power play, projecting him as a candidate to become a top-pair NHL defenseman.
Reid is No. 2 on NHL Central Scouting’s final list of North American skaters. He finished 12th among OHL defensemen with 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) and had 20 power-play points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 45 regular-season games. He added four points (two goals, two assists) in five games for the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Smith also praised Brantford center Caleb Malhotra, noting his advanced maturity, strong character, and significant upside. Malhotra is No. 6 on Central Scouting’s final North American skaters list. He ranked second among OHL rookies in goals (29), assists (55), and points (84) over 67 regular-season games, and led all first-year players in playoff points with 26 (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 games.
The podcast also examined other top forwards, including Nikita Klepov of Saginaw (No. 8), Ethan Belchetz of Windsor (No. 9), Brooks Rogowski of Oshawa (No. 21), and Jaxon Cover of London (No. 29). Additionally, it revisited takeaways from the NHL Scouting Combine alongside updated mock draft projections. As the draft approaches, the performance of these young athletes will be closely monitored by NHL teams and fans alike.
For more insights into the 2026 NHL Draft and profiles on top prospects, make sure to tune into the NHL Draft Class podcast.