Overview
- The New Jersey Devils used the 12th overall pick to select Alexander Command during the NHL draft on Friday, June 26.
- Command scored 17 goals and 44 points in 30 games for Örebro HK U20 this season and added seven points in seven games to help Sweden win gold at the 2026 IIHF U‑18 Championship.
- Scouts describe Command as a 6-foot-1, physical left‑shot center with a nonstop motor, strong board work, and reliable defensive instincts who projects as a middle‑six (2C/3C) option rather than a top‑line scorer.
- Team and media coverage say the Devils chose to keep the No. 12 pick rather than trade it and that Command will likely spend one to two more seasons in Sweden to refine his skating and shot before a North American move.
- The selection reflects GM Sunny Mehta’s emphasis on adding a dependable, playoff‑style center to deepen forward depth behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier and could shorten the timetable for the Devils to field a tougher bottom six.