The tallest player in OHL history is on the move.
Alexander Karmanov, a seven-foot-one defenceman from Moldova, has been acquired by the Windsor Spitfires in a deal with the North Bay Battalion, the teams announced Friday.
The Spitfires (12-5-2-1), who are in first place in the West Division, sent a sixth-round pick in 2030 to acquire the blue-liner.
The San Jose Sharks selected Karmanov, 18, in the seventh round (201st overall) of this year's NHL Draft.
Karmanov signed with the Battalion last November after being picked by the Brantford Bulldogs in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. He had no goals, five assists and 37 penalty minutes in 31 games over two seasons with the Battalion.
“This is a big, intriguing player," Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler told Jim Parker of the Windsor Star. "A San Jose pick, and we want to see if we can help and develop Alex, and he’s committed to the OHL next year. So, there’s a long runway to work with Alex.”
Karmanov started his junior career with the junior-A Brantford Titans in 2025. He had three goals, four assists and 68 penalty minutes in 15 games with the Greater Ontario Hockey League team.
Karmanov had a commitment to play NCAA hockey at Penn State University, but it is unclear if that will remain on his radar.
Karmanov played with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights under-16 team in 2024-25 in Pennsylvania. He played in Russia and Belarus in 2023-24.
New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe and Hockey Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara, both six-foot-nine, are the tallest players in NHL history.
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