Sharks Draft 7-Foot-1 Alexander Karmanov, the Tallest Player in NHL History

The San Jose Sharks made history on Saturday afternoon during the seventh round of the 2026 NHL Draft, and they did it in an undeniably massive way. With the 201st overall pick, the Sharks selected 18-year-old defenseman Alexander Karmanov, officially making him the tallest player ever drafted into the National Hockey League.

Karmanov’s seven-foot-one stature has given him a bit of notoriety in this draft class as the tallest prospect ever. Up to this point, the tallest players to play in the NHL are Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara, 2015-16 Chicago Blackhawks Viktor Svedberg and current New York Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe.

Karmanov is also the first player born in Moldova to be drafted into the NHL.

Growing up in a nation where ice rinks are scarce and only open a few months out of the year, Karmanov’s family frequently drove six to twenty hours into neighboring Eastern European countries so he could find ice time, compete in tournaments, and attend summer development camps. His pursuit of high-level hockey eventually brought him to North America, where he played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 16U AAA program in Pennsylvania before transitioning to junior hockey in Canada for his draft-eligible season.

During the 2025-26 campaign, Karmanov split his time between the Brantford Titans of the GOJHL and the North Bay Battalion of the OHL. He registered seven points and 68 penalty minutes in 15 games with Brantford before being called up to North Bay, where he notched two assists and 29 penalty minutes in 20 contests.