In the prime of his career, 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara was a Norris caliber defenseman with one of the most devastating slapshots the game has ever seen. Players of that height are anomalies in the game of hockey, especially in the high flying and smooth skating modern era.
With that though, there is a player of similar stature who has been taking the hockey world by storm. Enter 16 year old Moldovan defender Alexander Karmanov from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 16U. Already committed to Penn State, Karmanov moved to Pennsylvania this year to pursue his hockey career. What makes him all the more intriguing is the fact that he’s seven feet tall.
A critique for tall defenders – that they don’t have the skating prowess that is a must for the modern game – has been one that has been around for a quite a while. Defensemen like Vincent Desharnais, Jamie Oleksiak and Jani Hakanpää, who are all 6-foot-7, are case in point as they are often relegated to roles in penalty kill situations. Karmanov, though, has been working hard to prove he is the antithesis. Those who have seen him play are routinely questioning the logic of what a seven footer should be able to achieve on the ice.
“I regularly organize power skating exercises and I want my young people to fall…but (Karmanov) is as dexterous as our normal sized players,” his coach Matt Reid told TVA Sports. “I don’t even understand how it’s possible at seven feet.”
Another common drawback that size can carry is using it cleanly. A lot of the aforementioned defenders in the NHL rack up penalty minutes due to accidental contact.
Karmanov dealt with this as well, averaging more than a penalty a game in his entire career. That issue also presented itself with Karmanov early this season but Reid seems to think his development is making strides in that department too.
“Since his fifth game, I don’t think he’s been awarded more than two penalties in a match. If he keeps his stick on the ice and doesn’t stretch his arms, he’s okay. He can’t really be punished.” Reid stated.
If Karmanov can make a difference in the NCAA, it is possible the NHL could have one of the most intriguing prospects of the last decade. To win a Stanley Cup, every NHL team needs an elite defender logging heavy minutes. As such, defensemen are always a valued commodity in the draft. If Karmanov truly becomes anything like Chara, who knows, he may follow in the former captain’s footsteps.
by Ian Smyth
Ian Smyth is a journalism student at MacEwan University. He has written sports pieces for Inside the Rink and The Griff. Ian is currently a play by play and colour commentator for various MacEwan Griffins sports teams.