San Jose Sharks Draft Alexander Karmanov, Setting Height Record and Opening Door for Moldovan Talent

On June 24, 2026, the San Jose Sharks used the 201st-overall pick in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft to select 18-year-old defenseman Alexander Karmanov. At 7 ft 1 in (216 cm), he became the tallest player ever drafted, surpassing the previous 6-ft-9-in record held by Zdeno Chára, Matt Rempe and Viktor Svedberg. Karmanov also became the first player born in Moldova to be chosen in an NHL draft.

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Born in Chisinau, Moldova, Karmanov developed in Russia and Belarus during the 2023-24 season before moving to the United States for 16U Triple-A hockey with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (2024-25). He then played 15 games for the Brantford Titans of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL), recording three goals, four assists and 68 penalty minutes. After being selected by the Brantford Bulldogs in the CHL Import Draft, he signed with the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in late November 2025, posting two assists and 29 penalty minutes in 20 games. Karmanov has committed to play NCAA hockey at Penn State University beginning in the 2027-28 season.

Sharks take seven-foot-one defenceman Alexander Karmanov at NHL DraftSharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selectedSharks make 7-foot-1 Karmanov tallest player ever draftedAlexander Karmanov Goes 201st, Sharks Add 7-Foot-1 Record HolderESPNBleacher Report

• Height: 7 ft 1 in (216 cm)

Sharks Draft 7-Foot-1 Karmanov, Tallest Pick in NHL History

• Weight: reported as 272 lb (123 kg) by NHL.com and TheScore, and 280 lb (127 kg) by NHL Central Scouting and ESPN.

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• Draft ranking: 214th among North American skaters (NHL Central Scouting).

Alexander Karmanov Goes 201st, Sharks Add 7-Foot-1 Record Holder

• 2025-26 GOHL: 3 G, 4 A, 7 pts, 68 PIM (15 games).

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

• 2025-26 OHL: 0 G, 2 A, 2 pts, 29 PIM (20 games).

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

• International eligibility: Moldova (birth) and Russia.

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

Sharks Director of Amateur Scouting Chris Morehouse said the organization values Karmanov’s size and sees “athleticism” and an “untapped, raw project type of player” as reasons for the selection, emphasizing a long-term development plan. Scout Ellis noted that Karmanov “won’t get drafted this year based on pure hockey talent alone,” but that his unprecedented stature offers a “size-first” opportunity the Sharks intend to mold.

Sharks Have BIG 7th Round, Make History With Karmanov Pick

Analysts and fans highlighted Karmanov’s limited production, noting zero goals in the OHL and modest point totals. Social-media commentary described him as a “reach” for a seventh-round pick, questioning his skating and hockey awareness. Some observers warned that size alone does not guarantee NHL success, referencing the uncertain translation of his physical attributes into professional performance.

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Weight is reported variably as 272 lb and 280 lb. Penalty minutes differ between GOHL (68 PIM) and OHL (29 PIM) statistics. Sources differ on whether Karmanov was initially selected by the Brantford Bulldogs in the CHL Import Draft or solely by the Brantford Titans in the GOHL. No public scouting report quantifies his skating speed or defensive positioning, leaving key performance metrics unverified.

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Karmanov’s selection establishes a new height benchmark and introduces the first Moldovan-born player into the NHL pipeline, potentially expanding scouting interest in non-traditional hockey markets. The pick illustrates the Sharks’ strategic emphasis on size as a developmental asset during a rebuilding phase.

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

Karmanov will return to the North Bay Battalion for the 2026-27 OHL season, after which he joins Penn State’s Nittany Lions for the 2027-28 collegiate campaign. He is slated to attend the Sharks’ development camp later in 2026, where the organization will assess his readiness for professional play.

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

• “Listed as 7-foot-1 and 280 pounds by NHL Central Scouting, Karmanov is an absolute beast of a human being.” — Ellis, Sharks scout

Sharks drafted Alexander Karmanov, becoming tallest player ever selected

• “But an NHL team will absolutely select him on his size and look to mold that into something tangible.” — Ellis, Sharks scout

Alexander Karmanov Goes 201st, Sharks Add 7-Foot-1 Record Holder

• “You talk about his size. There’s athleticism there. There’s some untapped, raw project type of player,” — Chris Morehouse, Sharks Director of Amateur Scouting

Sharks Have BIG 7th Round, Make History With Karmanov Pick

• “That would be sick,” Stenberg said via NHL.com. “Just give him the puck, and he will fix it. He’s a special player.” — Ivar Stenberg, Sharks forward

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• “The Wemby of the NHL.” — X user (social media)

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