Florida Panthers goaltender Cooper Black became the tallest goaltender to ever appear in a National Hockey League (NHL) regular-season game during his debut on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. The 25-year-old rookie, who stands 6-foot-9, started in the Panthers' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Black is listed as two inches taller than the previous record holders for height at the position, which included Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard, and Mikko Koskinen.
Black was signed by Florida as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2024 and was recently recalled from the Charlotte Checkers, the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. The roster move followed a shoulder injury to Panthers goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Black played for Charlotte last season, where he recorded a 25-13-4 record, a 2.47 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage.
In his debut against Pittsburgh, Black stopped 18 of 21 shots he faced, including saves against Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell. He conceded three goals in the game, which ended in a 4-0 loss for Florida after an empty-net goal was scored while he was off the ice. Black finished his first appearance with a .857 save percentage in 57 minutes and 5 seconds of play.
The scale of this event is defined by its nature in professional hockey, as Black surpassed the 6-foot-7 height threshold that had previously marked the league's tallest goaltenders. While the financial specifics of his undrafted free agent contract were not reported, his presence on the active roster entitles him to NHL-level salary and benefits for the duration of his stay with the primary club. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice noted that Black's development has been linked to his physical growth, stating that it takes time for a player of that size to become comfortable with their frame.
For the Panthers organization, Black’s performance will influence future decisions regarding the goaltending rotation while Markstrom recovers. Black's next steps depend on the team's active roster needs; he remains with the Panthers as they continue their 2026-27 season, though no specific date for his next start has been announced.