Florida Panthers rookie Cooper Black became the tallest goaltender to appear in an NHL regular-season game, standing 6-foot-9 in his first career start against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
The 25-year-old from Alpen, Michigan, is listed two inches above the previous record holders.
According to ESPN Research and The Associated Press, Black surpassed the listed heights of Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, who each measure 6-foot-7.
Early Saves and a Historic First Goal Against
Black got his chance after Florida called him up from its American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte following a shoulder injury to Jacob Markstrom.
He stopped defenseman Kris Letang's wrist shot with his blocker about two minutes into the game and later denied a breakaway attempt by Penguins forward Rickard Rakell.
Nick Robertson eventually beat him on the glove side, becoming the first player to score against a goaltender a full foot taller than himself since Rocco Grimaldi scored three times against Bishop during the 2019 playoffs.
Robertson stands 5-foot-9, while Grimaldi was listed at 5-foot-6.
A Long Road of Physical Growth
Black's path to the NHL followed years of physical development.
He began playing hockey at age 8 and grew five inches between his junior and senior years of high school, from 6-foot-0 to 6-foot-5, before adding more height.
Florida signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024. Last season with Charlotte, he recorded a 25-13-4 record, a 2.47 goals-against average and a .
903 save percentage.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice credited the time needed for a player of Black's size to develop physically.
Speaking before the game, Maurice said, "A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body," before adding with a laugh, "I think he's done."
