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Canadian Team Stuns Hockey World by Signing 7-Foot, 273-Pound Giant Defenseman

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 12:13 PM ET

There have been some big players in hockey history, but in the recent CHL Import Draft, the Brantford Bulldogs selected one of the biggest in 7-foot Alexander Karmanov.

These days in the National Hockey League, it's speed that often wins games, but still, in a physical sport like hockey, there's never going to be a replacement for pure size and physicality.

That sentiment may serve the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League well, as they recently made a shocking selection at No. 172, drafting the biggest hockey player on the planet.

Standing at 7-foot-0 and 273 pounds, the 17-year old Alexander Karmanov is the biggest hockey player alive right now, and while he's certainly a risk of a draft pick, in the third round, the Bulldogs felt like he was a risk worth taking.

For the WB/Scranton Knights in 16U AAA this past season, Karmanov had 11 goals and 23 points in 20 games played, and while he's committed to Penn State University, the Bulldogs took a chance on him.

While many see Zdeno Chara as a towering figure, Karmanov stands over four inches taller than the former superstar blue liner, and if he can develop his skill and his skating, he could be a very intriguing prospect in the years to come, with NHL teams likely to keep tabs on him moving forward.

For now though, he's got plenty to work on, but with the 7 foot frame before even putting skates on, it's clear that he's going to make some type of impact in the OHL or the NCAA, so whether he can live up to the hype or not, he's going to be one to keep a very close eye on.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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