The New York Islanders use their lone selection in the first round to pick left-shot defenseman Malte Gustafsson with the 13th overall choice in the 2026 NHL Draft. Both reports describe Gustafsson as a tall, quick-skating prospect and a left-side defenseman valued for defensive ability and all-around play.
According to the accounts, Gustafsson has already reached a pro-level environment at age 17 in Sweden with HV71, where he has competed at a higher level than typical draft-age players. The coverage also characterizes his recent play with HV71 as strong, including an ability to help limit opponents as an international shutdown-style defender.
The Yahoo Sports coverage adds that the Islanders had multiple selections earlier in the draft process, but the team’s only pick on this day is the one used on Gustafsson at 13th overall. The reports frame the selection as an addition to the Islanders’ defensive pipeline.
