The San Jose Sharks selected defenseman Alexander Karmanov with the 201st overall pick on Saturday, making him the tallest player ever drafted in NHL history. The 7-foot-1, 280-pound blueliner brings unprecedented size to the professional ranks, breaking new ground for the franchise in Buffalo.

Karmanov also became the first Moldovan-born player ever selected in the NHL Draft, marking a historic milestone for hockey in Eastern Europe. His seventh-round selection by the Sharks represents a calculated gamble on raw physical tools rather than proven production at higher levels of competition.

The young defenseman spent the 2025-26 season splitting time between the Brantford Titans of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League. He's committed to play college hockey at Penn State beginning in 2027, giving the Nittany Lions a future defenseman who would immediately become their tallest player.

If Karmanov eventually reaches the NHL, he would surpass the current height record shared by Zdeno Chara, Matt Rempe and Viktor Svedberg, all listed at 6-9 during their careers. The Sharks are betting that his unique combination of size and mobility can develop into something special.