The Winnipeg Jets didn’t just land Viggo Björck in the 2026 NHL Draft. They were tracking another Swedish forward closely, too.
Alexander Command was right there near the top of Winnipeg’s board, and while the New Jersey Devils took him 12th overall, the Jets eventually found a way to bring him into the organization in the blockbuster trade that sent Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey.
NHL Draft analyst Chris Peters likes what Winnipeg got back. In his view, Command brings a mix that teams don’t often get in one package: offense, bite and a style that should translate.
“Probably just his compete, like the ability to get in on pucks and the battle,” Peters said.
“When you have that trait as a standout trait, some people might think, ‘Well, okay, that’s great, but how’s the offence?’ And I think that’s the thing.
He has the offence too. He’s got a great shot.”
Peters doesn’t see Command as a one-note player. The appeal, he said, is that the forward does a lot of things well.
“To me, I think the real benefit is the fact that he has a good all-around game,” Peters said.
“He’s really good in puck pursuit, physical. He’s got a lot of habits in his game that I think are really translatable.”
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said the organization’s interest in Command went beyond what he did on the ice. Winnipeg got a chance to learn about him through the draft process, and the answers they heard only strengthened the impression they already had.
“You fall in love with what you see on the ice. Hopefully it matches the personality.
One thing that really matched when you go to a combine and ask players questions, you want to see if they know themselves, you want to see if they know what you think their identity is. That it matches to what they think,” said Cheveldayoff on the day the Jets traded Hellebuyck.
“And what you think their strengths are, what you think their weaknesses are and see if it matches. And he was bang on.
He even talked about games where there was a stretch of time where he said this game, this game, this game, I didn’t play like I do. And he said I basically kicked myself in the butt and this has to stop, I have to get back to playing how I can.
When you have that type of self-awareness as a 17, 18 year. You hope that can continue as he goes pro.”
Command is also expected to be part of Sweden’s under-20 team as it tries to defend its gold medal at the World Juniors, and Peters sees that as another useful step in his development.
There was college interest in Command last season, and Peters said the NCAA path could have offered a different kind of growth, especially with the adjustment to North American hockey. Still, he said there’s no issue with Command staying in Sweden after signing a professional contract.
“The SHL is tried and true in terms of developing talent, so I wouldn’t begrudge him that at all,” Peters said.
“But he might have maybe benefited a little bit more had he chosen the college route and then played against older players but also had to develop his game in North America a little bit more.”
As for where Command could eventually fit at the NHL level, Peters sees a player who can settle into a useful middle-of-the-lineup role.
“I have a lot of confidence that he’s a strong middle-six candidate. I don’t think he’s a top-line player,” Peters said.
“I do think he’s going to be more secondary scoring, probably your matchup centre. A guy that’s going to give you some pop in the middle of your lineup, which, yeah, you definitely need.”
The next challenge is turning his physical edge into more offense without losing what already makes him effective. Peters pointed to Command’s ability to score impressive goals and attack the middle of the ice, but said the next step is learning how to use that strength to generate more chances.
“He’s just one of those guys, you figure that he’ll find a way one way or another,” Peters said.
“Whatever role he’s going to be in, he’s going to be able to play that role pretty well just because of that versatility.”
For Winnipeg, Command looks like more than a throw-in from a major trade. Peters called him a meaningful piece of the return and a player who fits the way the Jets want to play.
“I think certainly he’s a pretty critical piece,” Peters said.
“Anytime you’re part of a trade of that magnitude, you really don’t have a choice. You have to be a big piece.”
Björck may still be the top prize in Peters’ eyes, but he believes Command belongs near the top of Winnipeg’s young talent as well. With the Manitoba Moose also having a strong season and other prospects continuing to move forward, Peters thinks the system is in better shape.
And in his view, Command only helps that picture.
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