Suns’ Steve Nash’s nephew drafted by Canucks in 2026 NHL Draft

Steve Nash has reason to celebrate the success of a family member. The Suns’ Hall of Famer may have turned his attention away from his responsiblities as a senior advisor with the team Friday night and focused on the NHL Draft. That’s because his nephew, Caleb Malhotra, was selected with the No. 3 overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks.

Malhotra will begin a very interesting journey into his professional sports career. Not only is his uncle one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA, his father Manny Malhotra will be his head coach with the Canucks.

If the younger makes the roster out of training camp for the Canucks, he will be in the strange position of having to play for his father. The elder Malhotra is in his first year as an NHL head coach and he had a 16-year career as a player in the league. He played 991 games for seven teams, including three seasons with the Canucks.

The NHL-NBA connection is an unusual one, but it is not unprecedented. Nash is in a similar position to former NBA power forward Popeye Jones. His son, Seth Jones, has been a solid NHL defenseman for 13 NHL seasons while playing for four teams.

Malhotra rose up the draft board this year after an excellent offensive season. He is 6-2 with excellent skating skills and solid offensive moves around the net.

The Canucks finished in last place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference with 58 points, and that could give the younger Malhotra a solid chance to make the NHL in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

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