The Kingston Frontenacs have traded their 2024 first-rounder to Brantford

The Brantford Bulldogs announced on Thursday that they had acquired the rights to Caleb Malhotra from the Kingston Frontenacs. 

Malhotra was selected 8th overall by the Frontenacs in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, but GM Kory Cooper knew the pick came with its fair share of risks. 

“I understood Caleb’s intentions to commit to and play in Chilliwack and the NCAA when we made the selection in April,” said Cooper. “I made the decision to select him understanding the risk involved, but ultimately thought that the player was too talented to pass on the opportunity to convince him to report to the OHL and Kingston.”

Cooper went on to say that the team worked diligently through the summer and explored many avenues to persuade Caleb to choose the OHL over the BCHL and NCAA for his development. 

Caleb's father Manny Malhotra — a 17-year NHL veteran of 991 games — took a Head Coaching job with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. 

Abbotsford and Chilliwack are only a 30-minute drive from each other in British Columbia. Manny being close to Caleb would have greatly influenced his decision to play for the Chilliwack Chiefs. 

Since Caleb did not report to Kingston's training camp, he is considered a "defected" player, and by trading away his rights, the Frontenacs receive a compensation first-round pick in the 2025 OHL Draft. Kingston now owns two first-round picks for the 2025 draft. 

Below is the full details of the trade:

Kingston Receives

2026 2nd round (FLNT)
2026 6th round (BFD)
2028 3rd round (BFD) *Conditional pick
2028 4th round (BFD) *Conditional pick
2028 5th round (BFD) *Conditional pick

Brantford Receives

Caleb Malhotra
2028 2nd round (KGN)

“Given Caleb’s high character and limitless playing potential, he has created great options for himself," said Bulldogs GM Matt Turek. “The Brantford Bulldogs and the OHL are another great option. In acquiring Caleb’s rights, we want to give an elite player like Caleb another valuable option in his continued development.”

Brantford's situation in this trade scenario is exactly the same as Kitchener's, as they acquired Adam Valentini earlier this month from Brampton.

The organization is hoping that things don't go well for Caleb in the BCHL and he starts to question whether he chose the right path for his development. Or, Caleb is drafted by an NHL team in 2026 and instead of going to Boston University, the NHL team that drafts him convinces him to continue his development in the OHL. 

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