Particle.news

Devils Take Alexander Command With 12th Overall Pick

The Swedish two-way center is expected to spend one to two more years developing at home before moving to North America and immediately strengthens New Jersey’s forward prospects.

Overview

  • On Friday night the New Jersey Devils used the 12th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to pick 17-year-old Alexander Command from Örebro HK U20.
  • Command scored 17 goals and 44 points in 30 Nationell games this season and added significant playoff production and contributions to Sweden’s U18 gold-medal team.
  • Scouts portray him as a high-effort, two-way center who wins board battles, defends proactively, and plays with a physical edge rather than relying on pure top-end speed.
  • Analysts project he will likely remain in Sweden for one to two years to continue his development before a North American transition.
  • The pick immediately boosts New Jersey’s middle-six and penalty-killing depth and raises the club’s forward prospect ranking with a player who could slot behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in the future.