New York Islanders
· 2026-06-27
The New York Islanders have drafted defenseman Malte Gustafsson at No. 13 in the 2026 National Hockey League Draft.
Gustafsson made his Swedish Hockey League debut with HV71 last season.
The New York Islanders used their first-round pick to select Gustafsson, a 17-year-old defenseman from Sweden.
He spent the majority of the 2025-26 campaign in Sweden's top professional league, recording three assists in 27 regular season games.
Gustafsson's selection adds a young talent to the Islanders' roster, with the team currently standing 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 43-34 record, on a L3 streak as of June 27, 2026.
He also appeared for HV71's Under-20 team, where he added 12 points in 19 games.
Gustafsson has international experience, earning a gold medal as an alternate captain for Team Sweden at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship.
He was named to the tournament's All-Star Team after posting five points in six games.
The Islanders have selected 13th overall twice before, drafting Derek King in 1985 and Dean Chynoweth in 1987.
Gustafsson's addition to the team will be closely watched as the Islanders look to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference.
And with his experience in Sweden's top professional league, Gustafsson is expected to make an impact on the team.
But for now, the focus is on developing his skills and integrating him into the team's lineup.
So the Islanders' coaching staff will be working closely with Gustafsson to help him adjust to the NHL.