Devils select Alexander Command No. 12 overall in 2026 NHL Draft
A rising scorer from Europe has a new destination.
On Friday night, the New Jersey Devils selected forward Alexander Command, 17, with the 12th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
Command is a very contested prospect, with analysts having him all over their respective boards. Daily Faceoff analyst Steven Ellis had the center 13th in his final rankings, while NHL Central Scouting had him listed as the No. 11 European skater.
Command entered the draft after an impressive junior season in his home country. With Örebro HK’s under-20 team, he posted an impressive 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 30 games. Along with leading his team in scoring, the Danderyd native finished tied for seventh in the Swedish junior league in points, scoring the most by an under-18 player. He went on to add another 13 points in 14 playoff games.
Command also saw a little action in the Swedish Hockey League, appearing in six games for Örebro, but didn’t register a point. He’s expected to see a little more playing time with the big club next year.
On top of his club career, Command has seen some time on the world stage. This past season, he won the bronze medal with Sweden at the World Junior A Challenge, before helping Tre Kronor win gold at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
Ellis notes that Command’s game is very simple, but has the potential to develop into an all-around player that can make him useful in the NHL someday.
“Command isn’t flashy,” Ellis explained. “But he has all the makings of a reliable, all-situations center in the NHL. His floor is very high – he fits an archetype that succeeds quite frequently. He’s a smart, solid two-way center who makes everyone around him better. He doesn’t seem to have many off shifts, and that’s because he’s effective away from the puck, too. Command can contribute offensively but also will win faceoffs, block shots and make moves with intent. I’ve liked him internationally, and he has played quite well against his own age group. I think he’s more of a second/third-liner in the NHL, but one who shouldn’t have many issues being effective.”