Cooper Black to Become Tallest Goalie in NHL History

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Six-Foot-Eight Goaltender Cooper Black Set for NHL Debut

Cooper Black will make his NHL debut for the Florida Panthers against Pittsburgh tonight. The 25-year-old AHL goaltender has paid his dues in the minors and is getting the opportunity after Jacob Barkstrom was injured.

Black had a strong season with the Charlotte Checkers, posting a 25-13-4 record with a 2.47 goals-against average across 42 games.

What makes his debut especially intriguing is his size. At 6-foot-8, Black will become the tallest goaltender in NHL history when he starts. Standing next to the net, his waist reaches close to the crossbar, creating questions about how a goalie of his height gets low enough to stop shots through traffic or along the ice.

Black has already shown he can stop pucks at the AHL level. Now, his unusual frame and approach in the crease provide a compelling reason to watch his first NHL appearance.