San Jose selects seven-foot-one defenceman Alexander Karmanov in the seventh round (201st overall) of the NHL Draft, giving the OHL’s tallest player an NHL home as his NCAA path at Penn State runs from 2027-28.
When the San Jose Sharks chose Alexander Karmanov in the seventh round of the NHL Draft on Saturday, the pick carried a simple message: they believe in the size, and the potential, of a defenceman unlike most others.
Karmanov, listed at seven-foot-one and 280 pounds, was taken 201st overall. The Sharks secured him with a selection that immediately tied his future to two timelines—an NHL home now, and college hockey later.
A native of Moldova, Karmanov signed with the North Bay Battalion in late November after being selected by the Brantford Bulldogs in the CHL Import Draft last summer. In 20 games for the Battalion, he recorded no goals, two assists, and 29 penalty minutes.
Before that, Karmanov spent time with the Bulldogs’ top affiliate in the Greater Ontario Hockey League. In 15 games there, he put up three goals, four assists, and 68 penalty minutes.
His journey already includes multiple stops. Karmanov played with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights under-16 team last season in Pennsylvania. In 2023-24, he played in Russia and Belarus.
The Sharks’ draft decision also intersects with his stated commitment to NCAA hockey. Karmanov has made a commitment to play at Penn State University starting in 2027-28.
Karmanov’s height has also made headlines beyond this draft. The tallest players in NHL history include New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe and Hockey Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara—both listed at six-foot-nine.
Taken together, Saturday’s pick closes one chapter for an OHL standout while opening another: the Sharks get his rights, and Karmanov keeps moving toward Penn State, with his size and growing record waiting to be tested on the next stage.
Alexander Karmanov San Jose Sharks NHL Draft 201st overall North Bay Battalion Brantford Bulldogs CHL Import Draft Penn State NCAA hockey OHL