Manny Malhotra was a first-round pick by the New York Rangers back in 1998, going on to carve out a 16-season NHL career built on grit, face-off dominance, and defensive reliability. But these days, the veteran center is getting schooled in a whole new way—by his own son.

Caleb Malhotra, the 17-year-old phenom and top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, isn't shy about letting his dad know who the real offensive talent is in the family. "I think my offense is a bit higher than his, and I let him know that too," Caleb told TSN with a laugh. "Just fooling around the house. But yeah, my offense kind of separates me."

And when Caleb drops that particular trash-talk bomb? "He doesn't really have a comeback," the younger Malhotra added. "That's my finishing blow every time."

It's all in good fun, but the numbers back up the banter. Manny never scored more than 16 goals in major junior and finished his NHL career with 116 goals in 991 games. Caleb, meanwhile, exploded onto the OHL scene this season with 29 goals and 84 points in 67 games for Brantford. The 6-foot-2, 182-pound center has been even more dominant in the playoffs, racking up 13 goals and 26 points in 15 postseason contests—tying him for second in the league in scoring.

That said, the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree in every way. Caleb acknowledges he inherited his father's defensive instincts. "The defensive responsibility is kind of one similar thing," he said. "He was really well-known for his face-offs and defense. So, being positionally sound and positionally smart, and then being able to check guys and be physical when needed."

For Rangers fans, the idea of adding a skilled two-way center like Caleb to the prospect pool is tantalizing. But New York's lottery luck took a hit—they dropped two spots to No. 5 overall in the draft order, and Malhotra could be long gone by the time they're on the clock. To make matters more interesting, one of Manny's former teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs (who hold the No. 1 pick), or the San Jose Sharks (picking second) could snatch Caleb up first.

For now, the Malhotra household remains a friendly battleground of skill and pride. And if Caleb keeps producing at this pace, dad might just have to get used to being the second-best hockey player in the family.