Florida Panthers goalie Cooper Black made NHL history in his first career start, becoming the tallest goaltender to appear in a regular-season game. The 6-foot-9 Black, a 25-year-old from Alpen, Michigan, took the ice alone during pregame warmups Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, a tradition typically given to rookies. He is listed two inches taller than Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, who are each 6-foot-7.
Black, called up from Florida's AHL affiliate in Charlotte after Jacob Markstrom suffered a shoulder injury, was excellent in the first period. He stopped Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang on a wrist shot about two minutes in and turned aside a breakaway by Penguins forward Rickard Rakell. He gave up a goal to Nick Robertson, who beat him to the glove side. Robertson, who stands 5-9, became the first player to score on a goaltender a foot taller than him since Rocco Grimaldi tallied three on Bishop in the 2019 playoffs.
Black's rise has been gradual. He grew from 6-0 to 6-5 during a five-inch growth spurt between his junior and senior years of high school and kept growing. Florida signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024. He blossomed last season in Charlotte, posting a 25-13-4 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice praised Black's development. "A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body," Maurice said, adding with a laugh, "I think he's done."
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing