Command and Control | FEATURE

Alexander Command went through the obligatory “car wash” at the 2026 NHL Draft.

For those that may not know, the car wash is the barrage of media demands the prospects run through following their selection in the draft. They range from national broadcast interviews, specialized photo shoots, official NHL head shots, social media Q&As, interviews at a podium and on video stream, and much more. It’s a 45- to 60-minute process.

As Command went through the gauntlet, he kept hearing the handlers, photographers and videographers all making a similar request: “smile.”

The lack of smiling from Command, a Swedish center who was selected 12^th overall by the New Jersey Devils Friday night, is in line with his personality and style of play. He’s a fiery competitor that plays with a nasty edge and physicality. He takes his job seriously.

But don’t take my word for it. Take his.

“Plays with, I'd say, a little bit of a chip on the shoulder and pretty physical,” he said of his game. “Just hard-working, two-way center, 200-foot game.

“Likes to compete.”

And by compete, Command means to say, “I think it's pretty much built into the core, and for me, it comes naturally. I just want to win, but I hate to see (anybody) else win. So, I try to get it from them.”

Compete is a perfect personification of Command. In its final draft profile rankings, ESPN had this to say about Command:

“He’s got the personality that matches the fiery competitor that he is on the ice. Command physically overpowers his opponents and beats them in all areas of the ice on sheer will and determination.”

ESPN added that Command could develop into a center “who is a genuine nightmare to play against – otherwise known as exactly the type of player you want in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”

Otherwise known as exactly the type of player that would perfectly compliment Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier down the middle in the future for New Jersey. In fact, his game sounds pretty similar to the Devils’ captain.

“Love that comparable,” he said. “Kind of have the, I would say, from my point of view, that we kind of have the same style also, in part it's how we skate and just how we play the game. So yeah, very much.”

Command (6-1, 187 pounds) plays for Orebro’s junior club in the Swedish Hockey League. With the U20 Nationell team in 2025-26, he posted 17 goals and 44 points in 30 games while adding 13 points (5g-8a) in 14 playoff games. Command finished with three goals and seven points in seven games for Sweden as the top-line center in the World Under-18 Junior Championship to help his country win gold.

Command made his professional debut with six games played in the SHL while his draft stock soared late in the year.

Though Command had a good conversation with the Devils at the Combine, he was still surprised to hear his name called.

“I was just surprised and happy. Emotions all over the place,” he said. “So grateful for the people who helped me there.”

And of course, he shared his selection with his family, those who helped him get to this point.

“It means for me, pretty much the world,” he said of sharing the experience with his family. “It's not me who's getting drafted, it's them also. So, I'm just happy for them also.”

Command’s family even got a chance to join him through a portion of the car wash. You know, where was asked to smile. But don’t let Command’s serious demeanor fool you. Smile or not, he’s ecstatic about how everything played out.

“As you can imagine, pretty much the best feeling for me I've ever had,” he said. “So, very, very happy. Very, very happy.”

And as far as his message to the organization and Devils fans, he had this to say with full-throated confidence.

“You made a good choice,” he said. “I’m happy to be here. I don’t think there’s more to it.

“I’m just getting started.”