About this episode
Jeff Marek sits down with rising 2026 draft prospect Caleb Malhotra of the Brantford Bulldogs for a rare look into one of junior hockey’s most intriguing development stories. Malhotra explains how growing up with Manny Malhotra as his father shaped his habits, discipline, and understanding of the pro ecosystem, from locker-room exposure in Vancouver to video sessions and daily structure. He details the mental grind of last season’s injuries, watching peers jump to the CHL while he stayed committed, and why blocking out rankings noise is now part of his process. Caleb also reflects on sharing a room with future NHLers, learning under coach Jay McKee — a former NHL warrior with a path back to the big leagues — and how Brantford’s “all-in” roster construction fuels Memorial Cup expectations. For a player widely considered a top-five riser in the 2026 class, Malhotra’s maturity and readiness echo exactly what second-generation pedigree looks like when the fundamentals are taught, not forced. SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!! 👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/ 👍🏼Bauer: https://www.bauer.com/ 👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/ca 👍🏼Prime Video: https://primevideo-row.pxf.io/c/5560083/3303015/20020 Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! If you liked this, check out: 🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow 🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401 🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom 🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army 🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner 🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with us on ⬇️ Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff 💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com 🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff 💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoff Daily Faceoff Merch: https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.