BU's potential top two centers for 2026-27 were selected early the NHL Entry Draft as expected. Brantford's Caleb Malhotra was the third pick by Vancouver, the team he rooted for growing up, while rising sophomore Tynan Lawrence went to St. Louis at #11. They are the 28th and 29th Terriers chosen in the first round of the draft.
BU has multiple players selected in the Top 11 of an NHL Draft for the first time in program history
— BU Hockey Stats (@BUHockeyStats) June 27, 2026
● GoTerriers.com Malhotra, Lawrence drafted in first round of 2026 NHL Draft
● College Hockey News NHL Draft: 19 Current, Incoming College Players Taken in 1st Round
Malhotra, who skyrocketed up the draft rankings, emerged as the top center available following an 84-point regular season--and 26 more in the playoffs--for the Bulldogs. When he eventually turns pro, he'll skate for his father, Manny Malhotra, the Canucks' new head coach and himself a first-round pick in 1998.
● TSN Video DraftCentre Analysis: Canucks take Caleb Malhotra at No. 3
“Caleb Malhotra’s greatest asset, as good as his hockey sense and his speed and size is, is his character,” an anonymous NHL scout told The Athletic of Malhotra’s game in May. “He’s got elite character. I could see him captaining an NHL team someday, and you’re seeing it, his production in big games has gone to another level. He’s been dynamite in the playoffs.
"This is actually what I dreamed of." 💙
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 27, 2026
Caleb Malhotra chats with the Sportsnet panel about the emotions he felt after getting selected by the #Canucks.#NHLDraft | @ubereats pic.twitter.com/tlL0Z81IiP
NHL.com report
Malhotra (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) is one of junior hockey's most complete and trusted centers, having rapidly become a cornerstone piece playing key minutes in all situations. He has elite hockey sense and speed, and his ability to manage pace, arrive in space ahead of defenders and elevate linemates are qualities that separate him from others at his position. The 18-year-old is a committed two-way forward who was second among Ontario Hockey League rookies with 84 points (29 goals, 55 assists) in 67 games, and led Brantford during the playoffs with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 15 games. He'll play at Boston University next season.
NHL.com analysis: The first step in the Canucks rebuilding effort is a future top-line center in Malhotra. He began the season on Brantford's top line while some of their older players were at NHL training camps. The thought was he would slide down the lineup when those players came back, but it never happened; Malhotra earned his spot in the top six and on the top power play, and then was a dominant presence in the OHL playoffs. That Caleb's father, Manny Malhotra, is the Canucks coach likely didn't enter into the Vancouver decision; big, smart, skilled centers are what teams build championships around, and that's the profile for Malhotra.
● NHL.com Caleb Malhotra 'literally dreamed about' getting drafted by Canucks
● NHL.com Pre-draft day interview (video)
● FloHockey.tv Canucks select Malhotra No. 3
Malhotra becomes the seventh Terrier drafted in the top 5 of an NHL draft, joining Macklin Celebrini (#1,2024), Brady Tkachuk (#4, 2018), Jack Eichel (#2, 2015), Ryan Whitney (#5, 2002), Rick DiPietro (#1, 2000) and Scott Lachance (#4, 1991).
A moment Tynan will never forget!
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) June 27, 2026
pic.twitter.com/5K8swygwIQ
Lawrence joined BU at mid-season last year after leading USHL Muskegon to the 2025 Clark Cup title as playoff MVP and putting up 17 points in 13 games for the Lumberjack last fall.
“You just saw him get better and better. The production wasn’t there to start, but you still saw a lot of the things that make him a really good hockey player; just his relentless effort and motor, creating turnovers with a good stick, his pace,” Coach Jay Pandolfo told The Athletic. “And I thought in the last 3-4 games he played for us that he was arguably our best forward.”
By the end of it, Pandolfo also had him killing penalties, and he averaged 17:28 per game.
Tynan Lawrence went to Jake Allen's mini camps and already had "a few Blues things in his bedroom."
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 27, 2026
Check out this one-on-one interview with the Blues' No. 11 overall pick. #stlblues #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/JC1eWfaSMo
NHL.com reportFull circle moment for Tynan Lawrence 💙 #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/0qYMfiQU4L
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2026
As one of the most complete and competitive forwards available in the draft, Lawrence (6-foot, 183 pounds) is a player whose game is defined as much by pace and intelligence as by production. The 17-year-old began the season with 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 13 games as captain of Muskegon of the United States Hockey League. He made the move to NCAA hockey Jan. 8, and had seven points (two goals, five assists) and 35 shots on goal in 18 games. His combination of skating, intelligence and competitive edge make him special, and his game already resembles what NHL teams look for in high-leverage moments.
NHL.com analysis: With the first of four first-round picks, the Blues fill a need at center with Lawrence. He got solid experience playing half a season of NCAA hockey, and he'll be even better when he plays an entire season at BU next season. He's a dynamic presence with a 200-foot game, who knows how to use his speed to back up defenders. The Blues could have a franchise-altering weekend in Buffalo, and Lawrence is a nice first step in that process.
● thehockeywriters.com Blues Draft Tynan Lawrence 11th Overall
BU has had at least 1 player selected within the first two rounds in each of the last 12 NHL drafts and have had a player selected in the 1st round for the 4th straight draft
— BU Hockey Stats (@BUHockeyStats) June 26, 2026
The draft concludes Saturday with televised coverage on NHL Network. Look for incoming freshmen Xavier Villeneuve and Niklas Aaram Olsen to be early day two selections.
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