NY Islanders double down on building their future defense with Malte Gustafsson

The New York Islanders added size, mobility and physicality to their future blue line on Friday night, selecting Swedish defenseman Malte Gustafsson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The selection was announced by reigning Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer, who could one day form part of the Islanders' next generation defense corps alongside Gustafsson.

At 6-foot-4 and more than 200 pounds, Gustafsson entered the draft as one of the top defensive defensemen available. The 17-year-old spent last season in the HV71 organization in Sweden and elevated his draft stock with a strong performance for Sweden's gold medal-winning team at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

While Gustafsson is not viewed as a high-end offensive defenseman, evaluators believe his skating ability and defensive instincts project well to the NHL game.

Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis wrote that "his skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. A lack of flash and high-end offensive instinct likely won't help his draft projection, but there's still a ton to like about the way he defends and takes up space."

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler offered a similar assessment. "Gustafsson's game isn't about his offense despite having some elements," Wheeler wrote. "He's a big, rangy, strong, sturdy defender who plays a physical, competitive brand and moves well. He projects as a solid two-way NHL defenseman, and his profile is the coveted one in the league these days."

For the Islanders, the selection represents another investment in building a young core on the blue line. One year after selecting Schaefer first overall and Kashawn Aitcheson at 17, the Isles have now added another highly regarded defense prospect who could become part of the organization's long-term foundation.

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