A seventh-round pick in the NHL draft is traditionally a small deal. But on Saturday, the San Jose Sharks changed that, making a big decision by selecting 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov. The 18-year-old became the tallest player ever drafted.
Karmanov also made history by becoming the first Moldovan-born player drafted into the NHL when the Sharks selected him with the 201st pick at the NHL draft in Buffalo, New York.
The 280-pound Karmanov spent the 2025-26 season with the Brantford Titans in the Greater Ontario Hockey League before playing 20 games for the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League. He is slated to spend next season with the Battalion before playing college hockey at Penn State in 2027.
And for those wondering? Yes. Karmanov would be the tallest player on Penn State's current men's basketball roster (by 1 inch over sophomore center Ivan Juric).
When it comes to the NHL, he is set to be the tallest player to ever appear in the league if he does one day make his debut.
The title of tallest player to ever skate in the league is a three-way tie at 6-9 between Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara, current New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe and former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Viktor Svedberg.
