Mehta's Gamble: Devils Draft Alexander Command

New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta defied consensus expectations at the 2026 NHL Draft, selecting Swedish center Command with the 12th overall pick. The move signals a distinct shift in organizational philosophy, prioritizing high-end processing and two-way reliability over the high-octane offensive wingers that dominated the pre-draft buzz. Command, an analytics standout hailing from Örebro HK, finished his recent junior campaign with 44 points in just 30 games.