Alexander Karmanov’s brief stay with the Sharks is coming to a close, but not before the 18-year-old defenseman made a noticeable mark in San Jose.
Karmanov said Sunday that he is heading back to Southern Ontario on Monday to rejoin the OHL’s North Bay Battalion, leaving the Sharks’ camp as the club continues to trim its roster ahead of Tuesday’s preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights. More cuts could follow before then.
For Karmanov, the weekend even included a run-in with a Sharks fan while he was walking downtown with teammates. A stranger stopped him for a photo, a moment that seemed to capture the attention he drew during camp.
“I was with the boys and the boys told me we needed to get off the street,” Karmanov said Sunday. “It’s great. Everyone, the fans were great, and it’s really nice to have met them.”
That kind of reception followed him throughout his time in San Jose. The Sharks selected him in the seventh round, 201st overall, in June, making him the tallest player ever drafted into the NHL at 7-foot-1 and 275 pounds. He played in both Rookie Faceoff games at Tech CU Arena earlier this month, and his fight with Los Angeles Kings forward Liam Lefebvre, who is 6-foot-3, became a viral moment that drew the loudest cheer of the night.
Karmanov’s camp was not spotless. He made mistakes, as young players do. But he also showed enough to leave an impression, flashing his unusual reach and wingspan while earning respect from teammates and coaches.
On Sunday’s practice ice, that reach showed up again when he poked the puck off Will Smith’s stick on a couple of rushes. Michael Misa also beat him cleanly on one sequence after weaving around him. The snapshots fit the bigger picture: raw, still developing, but clearly intriguing.
“Just keep working,” he said, describing the message the Sharks’ coaching staff gave him. “I have, like, some details from the coaches, from the development coaches, and just keep doing what they tell me to do.”
Sharks assistant coach Brian Wiseman said Karmanov’s personality stood out just as much as his size.
“Extremely likable,” Wiseman said of Karmanov. “Speaking to him and when (fellow assistant Doug Houda) is coaching him, or when he was at the rookie camp, that’s all we’ve heard about is how attentive he is, how likable he is, how coachable he is.
“Those are great attributes to have, and coming into first NHL camp, always smiling. He’s got a smile on his face, up and down the hallways, in the locker room, on the ice.”
Karmanov also connected with new Sharks defenseman Darnell Nurse, who trained with him and several other NHL players this offseason at Gary Roberts’s facility in Toronto. Nurse said he could see how much Karmanov had grown since the summer began.
“You can just see the growth from the beginning of the summer to the end,” Nurse said. “You see the size, but he’s got skill.
He’s got a little nastiness to him, too. He’s going to be fun to watch as he continues to grow, and that’s just pretty cool.”
Karmanov said he picked up plenty from Nurse as well.
“Very big guy, too,” Karmanov said. “I like how he plays defensively, very aggressively, and has a very good stick and first pass.
I think it’s what I have to have. Just a great player.”
Now he returns to the OHL for another season, where he will at times work with Todd Marchant, the Sharks’ director of player development, and San Jose development coach Luca Sbisa, who played 13 NHL seasons.
Karmanov is currently committed to Penn State for the 2027-28 season, though that plan could still change.
“It should be a good year for me, for the team,” Karmanov said. “I’ll have more opportunity, we’ll keep working, and we’ll see how it goes.”
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Added A Defenseman Who Could Spark A Real Debate
The Red Wings quietly added another layer to their blue line by claiming Swedish defenseman Andreas Englund on waivers, a move that immediately gave fans something to chew on. Englund arrives with a reputation built on size, edge and a physical style that can change the tone of a game, which makes him an intriguing fit for a team that is still sorting out how it wants its defense to look.
For Detroit, the interest goes beyond just another depth claim. Englund has also made clear he grew up admiring two of the most respected Swedish defensemen to ever wear the winged wheel, Nicklas Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall, so there is a natural link to the franchises history. The question now is where he fits in a crowded picture, and whether the Red Wings see him as more than just a tough, short-term addition. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Just Sent Chris Ilitch A Clear Message
A public letter from a group calling itself Concerned Detroit Fans has put fresh pressure on Red Wings owner Chris Ilitch, turning a season of frustration into a louder conversation about leadership and accountability. The message, published amid the latest wave of organizational unease, argues that the team has left too many questions hanging after a stretch marked by turmoil at the top and a fan base that wants more than vague reassurances.
The letter points to the fallout surrounding Steve Yzermans departure and the way the front office has handled key moments behind the scenes, including Dylan Larkins trade request, as proof that the organization needs to explain itself more clearly. It is also pushing for a more direct public response and a concrete roadmap back to competitiveness, a demand that speaks to how much patience has worn down in Detroit. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Should Watch This Dylan Larkin Trade Twist
The Flyers have spent the summer trying to upgrade after their offer sheet for Leo Carlsson was matched by Anaheim, leaving them without the kind of major splash they were chasing. Since then, they have settled for more modest additions in goaltender Joseph Woll, forward Noel Acciari and prospect Porter Martone, while still keeping an eye on bigger names that could reshape the roster.
Dylan Larkin is one of the players lingering in that conversation, with trade talks around him and Kirill Marchenko reportedly involving multiple assets even though nothing has come close to a deal. For Red Wings fans, the wrinkle is not just that another team is poking around on their captain, but that the market keeps hinting at movement without any clear finish line yet. [Read more 🡒]