Alexander Karmanov – 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Karmanov is a difficult prospect to even talk about because he’s so far away from being an NHL level talent while also having maybe the most fascinating physical profile and potential in the history of the sport. In a world where NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-4) is re-writing what’s possible for the tallest athletes in the world, it’s hard not to imagine the best case scenario.

The best case scenario for Karmanov is that he does what Zdeno Chara did before him, making history as the league’s largest ever player and establishing a long career as a bruising physical specimen on the backend. 

The much more likely scenario is that Karmanov isn’t able to keep up with the pace of play in the NHL and he likely won’t even get NHL games. He is agile for his size, but that level of agility looks very different in relation to his 5-foot-10 opponents. Karmanov has a rocket of a slapshot, largely due to his absolutely massive stick (the largest I’ve ever seen outside of my home town), and he has more control over the puck than you’d expect from someone with his colossal wingspan.

Karmanov is committed to playing for the Nittany Lions at Penn. State University in the 2027-28 season, and is likely to play all of next season in the OHL for the North Bay Battalion. He got a taste of OHL play this year in 20 games, scoring two points and adding 29 penalty minutes. His size makes it nearly impossible to make a big clean hit without stapling the sleeves of his jersey to his torso. 

Alexander Karmanov – NHL Draft Projection

I’m not convinced Karmanov will be drafted this year, as his development will take a very long time. If he is drafted, it will be by a team willing to take a big home-run swing on a player who might not get particularly close. If Karmanov is passed on this season, I do think he will be on the radar of many NHL teams going forward. They will watch his development closely and gauge whether or not they are ready to take a chance on him.

Quotables

“It’s pretty remarkable for a big man and how big and how young he is. He hasn’t even filled out that frame and he can move the way he moves, so I’m intrigued.” – Ryan Ouahen, head coach, North Bay Battalion 

“He’s developing at a rapid rate, and I think when you have that will and determination, you can really go a long way with it. So he sacrificed a lot to be here. He has done things that the average 17-year-old hasn’t been through yet, but he wants to be a hockey player, and we’re looking forward to working with him.” – Adam Dennis, President and Director of Hockey Operations, North Bay Battalion

Strengths

• Heavy shot
• 7 Feet Tall!

Under Construction- Improvements to Make

• Speed and agility
• Reducing time spent in the penalty box
• Did I mention he’s 7-feet tall????

NHL Potential

In a dream world, Karmanov is a unicorn defender in the NHL, towering over all competition (Matt Rempe is the tallest player in the league currently, standing at 6-foot-9) and shutting down his opponents with his massive wingspan. I think it’s more likely that he doesn’t become a high, high-end player and has a great career playing in Europe. 

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk- 10?/5, Reward 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense- 2/10, Defense – 9/10

Awards/ Achievements

• First Moldovan Player Drafted to the OHL
• First Moldovan Player to Play in the OHL

Interviews/ Links

Who is Alexander Karmanov? Meet the Battalion’s newest 7-foot-1 defender

Alexander Karmanov Stats