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The San Jose Sharks picked 18-year-old Alexander Karmanov with the 201st selection in the 2026 NHL draft. He is the tallest player and first Moldovan-born player ever chosen in the draft.
winnipegfreepress.comThe San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov with the 201st pick in the 2026 NHL draft held Friday in Buffalo, New York. ESPN reported that the 18-year-old became the tallest player ever drafted by an NHL team and the first Moldovan-born player selected. Karmanov weighs 280 pounds, according to ESPN.
He played the 2025-26 season with the Brantford Titans in the Greater Ontario Hockey League and appeared in 20 games for the North Bay Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League. He is slated to return to the Battalion for the 2026-27 season before joining Penn State for college hockey in 2027.
ESPN noted that Karmanov would stand one inch taller than the tallest player on Penn State's current men's basketball roster.
The tallest players to appear in NHL games remain a three-way tie at 6 feet 9 inches among Zdeno Chara, Matt Rempe and Viktor Svedberg. Reuters listed Karmanov at 7-foot-1 and 272 pounds.
These outlets didn't split into competing frames — coverage was uniform.
Paraguay defeated Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw that went to extra time. The result marks Germany's earliest World Cup exit since 2018 and Paraguay's first appearance in the knockout stage.
winnipegfreepress.comThe Memphis Grizzlies agreed to send two-time All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jerami Grant and guard Kris Murray. The deal, reported June 29, still needs NBA approval and physical examinations.
onwardstate.comThe Detroit Lions released cornerback Terrion Arnold hours after a judge set his bond at $1 million on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. Arnold faces eight felony counts tied to a February incident in Florida.