Florida Panthers goaltender Cooper Black absolutely rewrote the NHL record books on Thursday, stepping onto the ice and making history as the tallest goalie to ever appear in an NHL game. At a jaw-dropping 6’9″, Black didn’t just play, he established a new benchmark for netminders in the league.
A New Height for NHL Goalies
Forget everything you thought you knew about goaltender size, because Cooper Black just reset the standard. Before Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the tallest goalies in NHL history like Ben Bishop, Mikko Koskinen, Ivan Fedotov, and Mads Søgaard all stood at an imposing 6’7″. That’s a huge frame, no doubt. But Black? He’s a full two inches taller, an absolute skyscraper in net, and it’s got to be a wild sight to see on the ice. This isn’t just a record; it’s a visual game-changer.
From Undrafted to Unstoppable?
So, how did this towering talent arrive on the big stage? Black joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent back in 2024. He put in his time, got recalled from the AHL on Tuesday, and then made his NHL debut a couple of days later. His shot came because veteran Jacob Markström, who’s started six games for Florida this season, is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury. This isn’t Black’s first taste of action though; he previously showed what he could do in one preseason game on September 24, racking up 14 saves in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was clearly impressed with that early glimpse. He told Jameson Olive of the team’s official website, “I thought the game against Tampa was a fantastic tell for him. He looked efficient. He was small in the right way. He wasn’t all over the place. He didn’t look like he was solely relying on his size to make saves. We’re looking forward to seeing him. We think we’ve got a real good one there.” When a coach says you’re a “real good one,” that speaks volumes, especially for an undrafted guy making history.
The Panthers are currently sitting at No. 4 in the Atlantic Division standings, having kicked off their 2026-27 campaign with a 5-3-2 record. With Black stepping into the spotlight and Maurice’s high praise, it’ll be thrilling to see how this colossal goalie makes his mark as the season rolls on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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