- May 21, 2026
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The New York Islanders announced Tuesday they signed 2026 first-round pick Malte Gustafsson to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Gustafsson, a 6-foot-4 defenseman, was taken by the Islanders with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft last June.
A native of Vackelsang, Sweden, he spent the 2025-26 campaign with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League, where he recorded three assists in 27 regular-season games. He also played 19 games with the club’s Under-20 squad, where he scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points.
Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis ranked Gustafsson No. 14 in his final rankings for this year’s draft, writing that the blueliner played well in Sweden’s top domestic league last season, despite the lack of offensive production.
“His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game,” he wrote. “Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. I also feel like he showed a bit more flash with the puck near the end of the year than we all first thought, especially at the Under-18s.”
At the aforementioned U-18 tournament, he served as an alternate captain and recorded a goal and four assists for five points to help Sweden win a gold medal. In the gold-medal game, Gustafsson led all Swedish skaters with 26:39 of ice time, helping his home nation earn a 4-2 victory.
The Islanders finished the 2025-26 season with a 43-34-5 record and 91 points, sixth in the Metropolitan Division and eight points back of a Wildcard spot.
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Gustafsson, a 6-foot-4 defenseman, was taken by the Islanders with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft last June.
A native of Vackelsang, Sweden, he spent the 2025-26 campaign with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League, where he recorded three assists in 27 regular-season games. He also played 19 games with the club’s Under-20 squad, where he scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points.
Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis ranked Gustafsson No. 14 in his final rankings for this year’s draft, writing that the blueliner played well in Sweden’s top domestic league last season, despite the lack of offensive production.
“His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game,” he wrote. “Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. I also feel like he showed a bit more flash with the puck near the end of the year than we all first thought, especially at the Under-18s.”
At the aforementioned U-18 tournament, he served as an alternate captain and recorded a goal and four assists for five points to help Sweden win a gold medal. In the gold-medal game, Gustafsson led all Swedish skaters with 26:39 of ice time, helping his home nation earn a 4-2 victory.
The Islanders finished the 2025-26 season with a 43-34-5 record and 91 points, sixth in the Metropolitan Division and eight points back of a Wildcard spot.
Continue reading...