Alexander Karmanov
Ice hockey player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Karmanov (born 22 March 2008) is a Moldovan ice hockey defenceman for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round of the 2026 NHL entry draft. At 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m), he is the tallest person to be drafted in the history of the NHL.
| Alexander Karmanov | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
March 22, 2008 Chișinău, Moldova | ||
| Height | 7 ft 1 in (216 cm) | ||
| Weight | 271 lb (123 kg; 19 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Defenceman | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| OHL team | North Bay Battalion | ||
| NHL draft |
201st overall, 2026 San Jose Sharks | ||
Playing career
Karmanov became interested in ice hockey at a young age after witnessing a game played on a frozen lake.[1] However, his country, Moldova, has no ice rinks.[1] Growing up, his family frequently traveled with him across the region, including to Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, to give him opportunities to play.[1] He moved with his mother to Podolsk, Russia, near Moscow, around age 10, after scouts who noticed him gave him an opportunity to join the youth academy at HC Vityaz.[1] After spending several years at Vityaz, eventually playing for the team at the U16 level, he left Russia for Scranton, Pennsylvania, to play Tier I AAA hockey with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights U16 team in 2024.[1]
Karmanov appeared in 20 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the Atlantic Youth Hockey League during the 2024–25 season, posting 11 goals and 12 assists.[1] After the season, he was selected by the Brantford Bulldogs in the third round, 172nd overall, of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.[2] Karmanov was the first Moldovan-born selection in the history of the CHL Import Draft.[3] He was also a 14th-round selection in the United States Hockey League (USHL) draft.[1] He joined the Bulldogs but was assigned to the Brantford Titans of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) before the regular season.[4][5] Karmanov played 15 games for the Titans and tallied three goals and four assists.[3] He was later released by Brantford before being acquired by the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[6] Karmanov became the tallest player in the history of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) when he played for the Battalion.[3] He appeared in 20 games for the team, recording two assists in the 2025–26 season.[7]
Karmanov was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round, 201st overall, of the 2026 NHL entry draft, becoming the tallest NHL draft pick in history.[8] He is also the first Moldovan-born NHL draft pick.[8]
Karmanov committed to play college ice hockey for the Penn State Nittany Lions.[8]
Karmanov, at 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m), is the tallest recorded hockey player worldwide.[4] He uses custom-made equipment, including a hockey stick that measures at 70 inches (180 cm), "more than half a foot longer than the longest models seen in the NHL".[1]