He was drafted in the first round as the 7th overall pick of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. During his NHL career he has played for the Rangers, the Dallas Stars and his current team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Malhotra spent the 2005-2006 season centering Columbus' 3rd line.

 

He is the second NHL player and first centre of Indian descent to play in the NHL(the first being Robin Bawa during the 1989-90 season with the Washington Capitals) as his father is from the state of Punjab in India.  His mother is a French Canadian. In September, 2007, Manny married Joann Nash, sister of NBA basketball player Steve Nash.