Unexpected Hockey Fight Highlights Rookie Match

Most players avoid confronting a towering 7-foot-1, 280-pound hockey player. However, Liam Lefebvre is not among them. This all unfolded during the 2026 Rookie Faceoff when Lefebvre, a Los Angeles Kings prospect, decided to challenge San Jose Sharks prospect Alexander Karmanov in a hockey fight.

Karmanov is notably the tallest player ever drafted in the NHL, picked 201st overall by the Sharks. His size poses a significant mismatch in any physical confrontation on the ice. The incident took place late in the third period of a game where San Jose defeated Los Angeles 8-1. It all started when Karmanov delivered a heavy hit to Kings defenseman Jakub Dvorak in the neutral zone, causing Dvorak to sustain an upper-body injury. This prompted several Kings players to confront Karmanov, and Lefebvre was eager to step up.

Lefebvre stands at 6-foot-3, a height that generally provides a strong presence on the ice. But against Karmanov, he appeared much smaller—like a little brother in a physical mismatch. As the gloves dropped, Karmanov immediately took advantage of his significant reach. The fight concluded with Lefebvre on the ice while Karmanov skated away, waving his arms and energizing the home crowd in San Jose.

Reflecting on the fight, Karmanov stated that it was part of the game’s dynamics. “I asked the guy if he wanted to go. Yeah, we went,” he remarked to reporters. The exchange certainly added an element of drama to the match.