Overview
- Alexander Karmanov, the San Jose Sharks’ 2026 seventh-round pick, dropped the gloves with Kings prospect Liam Lefebvre after a collision that left Jakub Dvorak down, in a bout widely shared online.
- The fight was visibly lopsided because Karmanov’s 7-foot-1 frame and reach gave him a clear advantage over the 6-foot-3 Lefebvre, who went to the ice with few successful punches.
- Karmanov was drafted 201st overall in June and is the tallest player ever selected in the NHL Draft and the first player born in Moldova to be drafted.
- San Jose won the same Rookie Faceoff game 8-1, a contest that included multiple fights and heavy penalty minutes and where teammates and opponents squared off after the on-ice collision.
- The incident sent Karmanov into the spotlight and is likely to shape early scouting and media attention by raising both interest in his rare size and questions about his mobility and readiness for higher levels of play.