Islanders Sign Malte Gustafsson To 3-Year ELC

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders announced the signing of their 2026 NHL Draft first-round draft pick, Malte Gustafsson, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Getting To Know Gustafsson

Drafted 13th overall by the Islanders, Gustafsson hails from Vackelsang, Sweden. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 203 pounds, Gustafsson is described as a two-way, physically dominant defenceman capable of playing in the top four pairing of an NHL lineup. 

Internationally, Gustafsson has accumulated championships and individual honours in the past two seasons. In 2024, Gustafsson played a key role in Sweden’s bronze-medal win at the U17 World Hockey Challenge in Sarnia, Ontario, defeating the United States in overtime. 

Last season, Gustafsson and the Swedish hockey team won a silver medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a gold medal at the U18 Men’s World Junior Championship in Slovakia, and earned a bronze at the World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Gustafsson received all-star team honours at both tournaments. 

From 2023 through last season, Gustafsson played with the HV71 organization in multiple tiers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). In May, Gustafsson re-signed with HV71 to a one-year contract. Gustafsson attended the Islanders Development Camp earlier this month and made an impression with the big club.

Although Gustafsson signed the entry-level contract with the Islanders, it doesn’t change where the defenceman will play to start the season. With the SHL regular season set to end in late March, there is a good chance Gustafsson will join the AHL Hamilton Hammers to get adjusted to the professional level before competing in the NHL full-time in 2027.

Final Thoughts

Gustafsson can compete defensively at the professional level, but like many European rookies, he will need time to adapt to the North American ice to secure a regular NHL spot. Since he plans to play another season in the SHL, it makes sense for him to join Hamilton later in the season.