The San Jose Sharks made waves in the 2026 NHL Draft, wrapping up their selections with a pick that’s sure to be the talk of the league. After securing top prospects Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff in the first round, the Sharks went big-literally-by drafting Alexander Karmanov, a towering 7-foot-1 defenseman from the Ontario Hockey League.
This selection not only marked a milestone for the Sharks but also set a new record in the NHL. Drafted at pick No.
201, Karmanov, a teenager hailing from Moldova, had already committed to Penn State at just 17 years old. His size is unprecedented in the league, making him the tallest player ever drafted.
The Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild, and this draft has fans buzzing with excitement about the future. But not everyone is sold on Karmanov’s potential impact.
His size, while undeniably intimidating, has raised eyebrows among scouts who question his ability to keep up with the NHL's fast-paced style. One OHL scout expressed mixed feelings, noting that while Karmanov's presence is formidable, there’s a concern about whether he might be "too big" for the modern game.
"It's hard to say at that age and so big," the scout remarked. "There’s such a thing as too big.
With how fast the game is now, he’s toying with that limit. It’s going to be about how he impacts the game versus just his presence."
Despite the skepticism, Karmanov’s potential as a game-changer is undeniable. His sheer size alone makes him a fascinating prospect, and if he can adapt to the speed of the NHL, this pick could turn out to be a masterstroke for Mike Grier and the Sharks' management. Only time will tell if Karmanov becomes a cornerstone of San Jose’s future success or if his size proves to be more of a challenge than an asset.
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Penn State Recruiting Turbulence Just Took Another Unsettling Turn
Penn States 2027 recruiting picture has already taken on the kind of familiar summer volatility that can make long-range planning feel a little shaky, even when the class still has promising pieces. Quarterback Will Wood is in, cornerback Dhillon McGee chose the Nittany Lions over in-state competition, and Matt Campbells staff has tried to keep momentum moving with creative touches like a recent visit to Hershey that left an impression on the players.
The challenge, of course, is that recruiting rarely stays orderly for long, especially when blue-chip targets keep narrowing the field and the staff still has work to do at receiver. Penn State has also had to keep an eye on the transfer side of the equation, where former defensive end Chaz Colemans path away from the program added another uneasy note to a cycle that already feels in motion. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Playoff Hype May Hinge On One Huge Unknown
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The larger question is whether the pieces on paper add up when the games get harder. Penn State avoids Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon in the regular season, and the early nonconference slate should not tell us much either, so the trip to Michigan on Oct. 17 may end up carrying outsized weight. Even with the upgrades, there is still some unease about the defensive line, where the Lions have not yet found a true No. 1 edge presence and need someone to seize that role before the seasons biggest tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]