The Nashville Predators are closing in on their draft night and own the 10th overall pick. They'll be caught in a position where they are trying to pair their needs and wants.
When it comes to the position that seems the most unsure as the future unfolds over the next few years for the Nashville Predators, it is the center position.
With Ryan O'Reilly and Steven Stamkos aging gracefully, Brady Martin still very early in his development, Matthew Wood looking like a good player but not totally set at center, and a player like Ross Colton cemented in the bottom six, the Predators need a center that they can slot into the first or second line to beef up their depth.
We've already talked about Tynan Lawrence, but unless there is a run on defenders in the top 10, he might get picked ahead of the Predators' pick. The next center down the line is no slouch, though. That player is Alexander Command.
The Next Generation of Steady Swedes
Command turned 18 last week and stands at 6'1" while weighing in around 185 pounds. He's not a big center, but he isn't small either, and he'll strengthen and mature with age. He played the majority of his season last year in the Swedish Junior League, scoring 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 30 games while adding 61 penalty minutes. He also got a 6-game cup of coffee in the SHL, the pro league in Sweden.
His performance in juniors was impressive. He made his debut in the league at the end of the previous season and scored 8 points in 7 games, and after opening some eyes, his follow-up showed that he deserves to be considered. He is a good skater who plays with excellent pace, and will win battles and 2nd chance pucks more often than not. That leads to his impressive numbers.
It has also translated to best on best competition. He had 7 points in 7 games in the World Junior Championships Under 18 tournament, and across all international play with the Swedish U-18 team, he had 21 points in 21 games (10 goals, 11 assists) and 34 penalty minutes. If he was that effective in his first real year on the scene, imagine the potential that he wa continuing on if his development is taken care of correctly?
Here is a post with some clips of him scoring, passing, and being physical with a purpose.
Swedish center Alexander Command has firmly played his way into the 1st round on our draft board at McKeen's Hockey (@mckeenshockey)
— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) February 7, 2026
Not only does he have a well-balanced offensive profile (skating, shooting, playmaking), he's also a physical and competitive menace
Some clips: pic.twitter.com/S5iDzOGJWE
One thing that really stands out is his fluidity. His skating seems unaffected by any situation, and he's arriving at the puck or the opponent quickly. Keep in mind, in every clip, he's just 17 years old. Now he's going to have to learn to control the crash and bang in his game a bit to make sure that he isn't spending too much time in the penalty box.
If you take Command, you have great center depth moving forward with Matrin, Yegor Surin, David Enstrom, and Fedor Svechkov. It gives you the flexibility to move a player like Martin to the wing if he'll be more effective long term there, and you have players rising up and building a brand new core.
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