Meet Alexander Karmanov, the 6'11 teen who could become tallest player in NHL history

Alexander Karmanov is the man to watch in hockey. Born on March 22, 2008, the Russian-Moldovan defenseman stands 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 251 pounds.

He hails from Chisinau, Moldova, and holds both Russian and Moldovan nationality. Currently, he plays for the Vityaz Podolsk youth team. The 16-year-old's height and potential has caught the eye of the NHL community.

Karmanov has committed to Penn State University for the 2027-28 season. If he keeps developing well, he could enter the 2026 NHL Draft. If drafted, he would be the first player with Moldovan roots in the NHL. His height would also make him taller than Zdeno Chara, who is 6-foot-9, the tallest player in NHL history.

Steve “Dangle” Glynn, a popular hockey YouTuber, talked about Karmanov's potential on X (formerly Twitter). He noted that at 16, Karmanov’s height and weight are impressive. Last year, his size would have made him one of the tallest and heaviest players in the NHL.

"Oh, my God. This kid, who, I'm gonna remind you is 16 years old, is six foot eleven, if that sounds tall to you. You're absolutely right. He would be the tallest player in NHL history by two inches," Glynn said.

"Zidane Ochara was two inches shorter at six foot nine, but the height has people losing sight of the fact the kid is 16 and 251 pounds. 251 pounds would make this kid the 14th heaviest player in NHL history. Last year, there was only one player in the entire NHL who was heavier than that. He has four inches and ten pounds. On Matt Rempe," Glynn added.

Karmanov is still growing, which makes his future even more fascinating. Chara kept growing in height until he was in his late teens. In the case of moving to the NHL, Karmanov would have more time to work on his skills before transferring to the higher league.

Alexander Karmanov's good hockey skating skills

Sixteen-year-old Alexander Karmanov has committed to Penn State University’s NCAA Division I hockey team. Karmanov, from Moldova, stands seven feet tall and weighs 251 pounds.

Karmanov will join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights' Under-16 AAA program for the 2024-25 season. Last season, he played in Russia and Belarus, scoring nine points in 25 games. Videos show Karmanov's good skating skills for his size.

"Because people cannot get enough of Alexander Karmanov, some skating clips via Instagram. Have not seen a 7'0 hockey player before but I'd guess this is decent skating for that height," NHL insider Austin Kelly tweeted.

Eliteprospects.com reports that 14 players in their database have been 6-foot-11. However, Alexander Karmanov is the only one active. If he succeeds, Karmanov will be the tallest player in NCAA hockey history. His height and potential make him a top recruit for the Nittany Lions.