Zach Hyman had nothing but praise for Caleb Malhotra, who is on his way to the World Junior Summer Showcase.
After losing out on Stenberg in the draught, Vancouver selected Malhotra, a graduate of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL.
Hyman’s voice didn’t give the impression that he was contemplating a consolation prize.
“Amazing kid. Hyman remarked, “You’ll love meeting him at that camp.”
He didn’t stop there, either, saying he expects Malhotra to be in the NHL “pretty soon.”
From a player with Hyman’s history, that is not a casual remark.
Such support is important for a Canucks team that is rebuilding and still looking for grounds to have faith in the future.
Malhotra’s father and coach have more than just a surname in common.
Here’s the detail that connects the entire tale. “Manny did a fantastic job raising him,” said Hyman, who gave Malhotra credit for his upbringing.
Vancouver’s own head coach, Manny Malhotra, was appointed in June.
So the Canucks not only picked a potential player this summer, but they also chose the son of their head coach.
Last season, Vancouver finished 25-49-8 with 58 points, putting them in last place overall in the league—the type of season that places additional strain on every young person in the organization.
Such a dismantling requires stories like this one, in which a respected veteran publicly supports a potential before he has played a single Showcase game.
Does having Manny Malhotra on the bench put more pressure on Caleb’s growth than other candidates, or does it give him an advantage?
Regardless, the relationship gives Vancouver’s reconstruction a depth that transcends this season’s victories and defeats.
Whether or not Hyman offered a Showcase invitation, Malhotra must really earn that NHL timeframe.
However, a statement like Hyman’s is precisely the sort of thing that keeps people interested in the next tier of this roster for a fanbase that is enduring a last-place finish.
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