F - Nela Lopusanova - Vlci Zilina (2026 NHL Draft)

[Gigantor The Goalie]

When would Nela be eligible for a PWHL draft? Would love to see her live.

We don't know what the drafts from here on out will look like. As it stands there's no age limit in the PWHL and it's probable any drafts they do will have the same "you have to sign up" requirement as the inaugural draft. Theoretically Nela could sign up for the PWHL this summer/fall. Now here's what makes this interesting, the NCAA doesn't have the same rules for men's and women's hockey when it comes playing pro. Eve Gascon played two games in the QMJHL and is now playing NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The key is as long as their expenses are covered and nothing else it doesn't effect their eligibility. I don't know how'd that work in this situation but the PWHL should be grabbing a lawyer and figuring this out.

 

[alko]

Her parents said, school (college) is at first. Then prof hockey.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Maybe U16 is a slim possibility but U20 is less than 0.1% chance. Even the top men in the 2026 class like Tobias Tomik or Adam Nemec wouldn't make it.

I agree with your overall point, but Dravecky will probably make it next year as a 2027 draft eligible.

 

[LeProspector]

Who’s better between her and Primerano?

 

[FourQuarters]

Is she still not eligible for Women WC?

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Is she still not eligible for Women WC?

She is but she's at the USA Youth Nationals which is also why the Czechs weren't able to add Michaela Hesova to their roster as the 3rd goalie.

 

[kaiser matias]

Committed to Wisconsin:

https://thehockeynews.com/womens/co...-officially-commits-to-wisconsin-badgers-ncaa

 

[Antiillafire]

Slovakia women’s national team is currently winning 4-0 in their quest for Olympic qualification. Nela has all 4 goals and scored a Michigan

 

[Fantomas]

2026 NHL draft? Is this a joke?

 

[alko]

2026 NHL draft? Is this a joke?

 

[vlady]

18 points (11 goals) in the 3 games against Kazakhstan, Iceland and Slovenia.

Opposition was weak, but still impressive numbers. Second best scorer on the team had 7 points. Second best goal scorer had 3 goals.

It will be interesting to see what she can do against tougher opponents in the next round (Germany, Austria, Hungary). Can she carry the team all way to the Olympics?

She should also appear at the U18 Worlds starting January 4. That will also be an interesting test against Canada, Czechia and Switzerland.

 

[Erikfromfin]

1+1 vs Canada and hatter vs Czechia. Slovaks lost both games

 

[FourQuarters]

She involved in every goal of Slovakia on this tournament so far I think?

 

[vlady]

She involved in every goal of Slovakia on this tournament so far I think?

yes, the rest of the team is really bad. Nela has 8 points in 3 games and is 3 points ahead of the next best player in the whole tournament.

 

[vlady]

She was voted tournament MVP, becoming the first player to get the award twice.

IIHF - MVP goes to Lopusanova

Slovak star takes prize for the second time

www.iihf.com

 

[ES]

The youngest PWHL player this season is Daniela Pejsova. She's a 22-year-old Czech and played last six seasons in Sweden. I believe that's the age when Lopusanova is also making her debut there which would be 2030.

 

[BondraTime]

The youngest PWHL player this season is Daniela Pejsova. She's a 22-year-old Czech and played last six seasons in Sweden. I believe that's the age when Lopusanova is also making her debut there which would be 2030.

Whenever she graduates, barring some serious PWHL pay increses which would make coming out at 20/21 more understanding.

I'd imagine she'll finish her 4 years, get her bachelors, then head to whatever team has the 1st pick in the draft.

If she was like Pejsova and just playing pro in Europe rather than get a NCAA scholarship and degree paid for, she could likely play at 18/19. Primano is doing great as a 17 year old in the NCAA, but isn't the dominant player she has been everywhere else (which makes sense, she's in her 17 year old season.) Nela will likely have the same type of adjustment year prior to becoming the best player in the NCAA at 19 or so.

PWHL is different in that there is no age requirement for the league, If a team wanted to make it worth her while, they could grab her at any point in the next year or two. I'm not sure the league has the finiances to make it worthwhile as I'm sure the value of those 4 years at Wisconsin would be very high for Nela, and I'm certian there will not be a Catilin Clark boon for the team/PWHL grabbing her.