Sharks Draft Historic 7-Foot-1 Prospect
San Jose Sharks Make History, Drafting 7-Foot-1 Alexander Karmanov as NHL's Tallest Prospect
Key Points
Karmanov is eligible to represent Russia at the international level, in addition to Moldova, which adds an international edge to his draft profile.
There are conflicting junior-stat lines for his GOJHL/OHL seasons: one report lists 3 goals, 4 assists, and 7 points in 15 games with the Brantford Titans (GOJHL) plus 2 assists in 20 games with the North Bay Battalion (OHL) and 68 penalty minutes, while another report cites 0 goals, 2 assists, and 29 penalty minutes in 20 games with North Bay.
Karmanov joined the North Bay Battalion in late November after being drafted by the Brantford Bulldogs in the CHL Import Draft last summer, before heading to Penn State in 2027-28.
The draft pick is placed in a broader context of the tallest players in NHL history, with names such as Zdeno Chara, Viktor Svedberg, and Matt Rempe identified as among the tallest to play in the league.
Analysts frame the selection as a size-driven projection, underscored by the assertion that there has literally never been a bigger player to play high-level ice hockey, highlighting the long-term development path envisioned for him.
The San Jose Sharks made NHL history on June 27, 2026, selecting defenseman Alexander Karmanov 201st overall — the tallest player ever drafted in the league. Karmanov stands 7-foot-1 and weighs 280 pounds, surpassing the previous benchmark of 6-foot-9 set by players like Zdeno Chara, according to Sportsnet.
Born in Chisinau, Moldova, Karmanov also becomes the first player from his country ever drafted by an NHL team, theScore reported. He was not even projected to be drafted — NHL Central Scouting ranked him 214th among North American skaters. The Sharks picked him anyway.
A Journey from Moldova to the OHL to NHL Draft
Karmanov was born in Moldova in 2008 and developed in Russian and Belarusian junior systems before moving to the United States in August 2024. He joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 16U AAA team, posting 33 points and 60 penalty minutes in 35 games, according to Elite Prospects.
The Brantford Bulldogs then selected him in the CHL Import Draft in summer 2025. He started the 2025–26 season with the Brantford Titans in the GOJHL, recording 3 goals, 4 assists, and 68 penalty minutes in 15 games. In late November 2025, the North Bay Battalion signed him and he made his OHL debut — becoming the tallest player in CHL history, BayToday reported.
Scouts Skeptical But Sharks Bet on Pure Size
NHL scouts were blunt about his weaknesses. One analyst noted that scouts rated his skating a "1.5 to 2 out of 10," according to Daily Faceoff. In 20 OHL games with North Bay, Karmanov posted just 2 assists and 29 penalty minutes. His skating remains the biggest hurdle to any professional future.
Still, North Bay coach Ryan Oulahen saw enough to stay positive. "His shot when he gets it off is extremely hard and heavy. It's pretty remarkable for a big man," Oulahen said, per CHL.ca. Team GM Adam Dennis added: "Everybody's superpowers are their weakness until they can harness it." The Sharks appear to be betting on exactly that.
The Chara Comparison and a Long Development Road
Multiple analysts compared the pick to Zdeno Chara, who also struggled with skating early in his career before becoming one of the best defensemen in NHL history. The Sharks seem to be playing the same long game. Karmanov's agent, Dan Milstein, tweeted a photo of his client days before the draft with the caption: "Draft day is close. So is the ceiling," theScore noted.
The development path is a long one. Karmanov will return to the North Bay Battalion for the 2026–27 OHL season. After that, he heads to Penn State for NCAA hockey starting in 2027–28, according to Sportsnet. The Sharks are not expecting him in the NHL before 2029 or 2030 at the earliest.
Moldova's First NHL Pick Could Spark a Hockey Movement
Karmanov's selection is about more than one player. He is Moldova's first-ever NHL draft pick, putting a country with almost no hockey history on the league's map. He is also eligible to represent Russia internationally, giving him options at the international level, Elite Prospects reported.
For the Sharks, a seventh-round pick carries little risk. If Karmanov never reaches the NHL, San Jose loses nothing. But if his skating catches up to his size, there has "literally never been a bigger player to play high-level ice hockey," as analysts framed it, per Daily Faceoff. That alone makes the pick worth watching.
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