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

[ponder]

Take the best women, ever to play, at any age, ever, and she would not be able to keep up with a CHL team.

Is she going to be the best women player ever? Very possible. In order for keep up with pro men outside of Div 2/3 she will have to be the best women to ever play by an absolutely gigantic margin.

There is no possibility she is an NHL draft pick

19 points is outstanding, but there was another girl younger than her with 14 points. It's outstanding, but it's not good hockey.

It is worth noting that she’s also dominating the men’s/boy’s league she’s playing in. She’s playing top level U16 in Slovakia, and has 43 points in 13 games (3.31 PPG). Highest PPG in the league of any player with 10+ games played, and she’s been 14 most of the season, only turned 15 on Feb 26th (yesterday).

For a point of comparison, Slafkovsky didn’t play in this league at the same age (was playing Czech hockey in his same-age year), but did play in it when he was one year younger. He had 54 points in 23 games (2.35 PPG).

Of course, the size/strength disparity is only going to get larger from here on out. She has an uphill battle, no doubt, but if a 5’7”, 146 lb guy, who just turned 15 a day ago, was putting up 3.3 PPG in the top Slovakian U16 league, we’d be talking about him as a kid with a shot to get drafted in the first few rounds of his NHL draft year.

 

[austin63867]

It is worth noting that she’s also dominating the men’s/boy’s league she’s playing in. She’s playing top level U16 in Slovakia, and has 43 points in 13 games (3.31 PPG). Highest PPG in the league of any player with 10+ games played, and she’s been 14 most of the season, only turned 15 on Feb 26th (yesterday).

For a point of comparison, Slafkovsky didn’t play in this league at the same age (was playing Czech hockey in his same-age year), but did play in it when he was one year younger. He had 54 points in 23 games (2.35 PPG).

Of course, the size/strength disparity is only going to get larger from here on out. She has an uphill battle, no doubt, but if a 5’7”, 146 lb guy, who just turned 15 a day ago, was putting up 3.3 PPG in the top Slovakian U16 league, we’d be talking about him as a kid with a shot to get drafted in the first few rounds of his NHL draft year.

Truthfully, it's a very easy offensive league. If she does it in U18 I'd take her very seriously. I do now, but doing it at the next level will be meaningful.

 

[Garl]

I'm saying if she was to play in a men's league. I made this thread I know she's a woman lol.

Yes, but you are writing on her height as if it was about a very skilled but short guy, kinda like Aito Iguchi
Her height is not relevant, categories like "small" dont apply, she is a woman.

 

[austin63867]

Yes, but you are writing on her height as if it was about a very skilled but short guy, kinda like Aito Iguchi
Her height is not relevant, categories like "small" dont apply, she is a woman.

Fair, but if she was like 5'10 I'd feel a bit better because at 15 she isn't going to grow much. I still have a lot of faith in her.

 

[Garl]

Fair, but if she was like 5'10 I'd feel a bit better because at 15 she isn't going to grow much. I still have a lot of faith in her.

Nah, she is super skilled but obviously, her main talent is her hockey mind. However, I doubt she would make it in a mens league, even if she will grow to 6'0. So, most likely a Tony Hand type of a career in womens hockey, with some possibly succesful seasons in amateur mens league.

And it is not hate, in a non contact contact league she would probably be a player, she is very talented

 

[Garl]

It is worth noting that she’s also dominating the men’s/boy’s league she’s playing in. She’s playing top level U16 in Slovakia, and has 43 points in 13 games (3.31 PPG). Highest PPG in the league of any player with 10+ games played, and she’s been 14 most of the season, only turned 15 on Feb 26th (yesterday).

For a point of comparison, Slafkovsky didn’t play in this league at the same age (was playing Czech hockey in his same-age year), but did play in it when he was one year younger. He had 54 points in 23 games (2.35 PPG).

Of course, the size/strength disparity is only going to get larger from here on out. She has an uphill battle, no doubt, but if a 5’7”, 146 lb guy, who just turned 15 a day ago, was putting up 3.3 PPG in the top Slovakian U16 league, we’d be talking about him as a kid with a shot to get drafted in the first few rounds of his NHL draft year.

15-16 is not an indicator. In my school our best basketball player until we were 15 was a girl. But then, the difference in strength was too much for her, even though she was skilled, athletic and quite fast

 

[Faterson]

In today's game her team won 24-1 and Nela had 10 goals and 9 assists.

Isn't that a little bit disappointing? I'd expect nothing less than 25 points per game from Nela.

(Then again, not sure why basketball is even being discussed on HFBoards, but what do I know?)

 

[NitroF]

19 points in one game sure feels like a basketball stat.

 

[Mitch nylander]

This is absurd. Really cool story.

 

[ponder]

Truthfully, it's a very easy offensive league. If she does it in U18 I'd take her very seriously. I do now, but doing it at the next level will be meaningful.

No doubt, every level from here on out is going to get harder. The boys/men will get bigger/stronger/faster, she will too but not as much, there are biological limits. Still, what she’s done so far is incredibly impressive. I think when she moves up to the Slovakian men’s U18 league (maybe next year?), she’s got a legit shot to tear it up there too, but yeah, we’ll have to see.

Things will get harder as she leaves Slovakia, though. If she dominates Slovakian U18 hockey, the next step will probably be something like junior hockey in Czechia or Finland or something like that, which would be a major challenge.

15-16 is not an indicator. In my school our best basketball player until we were 15 was a girl. But then, the difference in strength was too much for her, even though she was skilled, athletic and quite fast

Hah, dunno how relevant your high school is here. She’s arguably the best 14 year old female hockey player of all time. At the women’s U18 WJC, she put up the highest scoring tourney by a 14 year old ever, as well as the highest scoring by a women of any age in a decade. When a 14 year old out performs every U18 woman of the past decade, that’s pretty ridiculous. She’s not just good, she’s a total outlier.

As I noted above, I do agree that things are just gonna get harder for her from here on out. She’ll move to progressively harder leagues against progressively bigger/faster/stronger men. It’s insanely hard for a woman to compete with men in highly physical sports like hockey, because biology. But if any woman has a chance, it’s her, she’s doing amazing things.

 

[Colezuki]

No doubt, every level from here on out is going to get harder. The boys/men will get bigger/stronger/faster, she will too but not as much, there are biological limits. Still, what she’s done so far is incredibly impressive. I think when she moves up to the Slovakian U18 league (next year?), she’s got a legit shot to tear it up there too, but yeah, we’ll have to see.

Things will get harder as she leaves Slovakia, though. If she dominates Slovakian U18 hockey, the next step will probably be something like junior hockey in Czechia or Finland or something like that, which would be a major challenge.


Hah, dunno how relevant your high school is here. She’s arguably the best 14 year old female hockey player of all time. At the women’s U18 WJC, she put up the highest scoring tourney by a 14 year old ever, as well as the highest scoring by a women of any age in a decade. When a 14 year old out performs every U18 woman of the past decade, that’s pretty ridiculous. She’s not just good, she’s a total outlier.

As I noted above, I do agree that things are just gonna get harder for her from here on out. She’ll move to progressively harder leagues against progressively bigger/faster/stronger men. It’s insanely hard for a woman to compete with men in highly physical sports like hockey, because biology. But if any woman has a chance, it’s her, she’s doing amazing things.

Worth noting water bug players actually can work in the NHL now if skilled enough, look at Caufield, Marner, debrincat etc. doesn’t mean she’ll make it but if she can keep going up she may have a shot, hell even a 7th round pick would be a cool story. Don’t know her at all but so long as her game isn’t tied to physical plays she may have a shot.I think that was wickenheisers downfall was a power player but you can’t overpower at the same level as men.

 

[ponder]

Worth noting water bug players actually can work in the NHL now if skilled enough, look at Caufield, Marner, debrincat etc. doesn’t mean she’ll make it but if she can keep going up she may have a shot, hell even a 7th round pick would be a cool story. Don’t know her at all but so long as her game isn’t tied to physical plays she may have a shot.I think that was wickenheisers downfall was a power player but you can’t overpower at the same level as men.

Agreed, although physically, Caufield and DeBrincat are very stocky, little tanks. Marner is skinny but 6’. She could have a similar physique to Gaudreau, though. Johnny Hockey is listed at 5’9” 165 lbs, and that feels generous. Nela is already 5’7” 146 lbs, and she just turned 15 a couple days ago, I could see her hitting 5’9” 165 lbs. FWIW Wickenheiser was 5’9” 175 lbs.

But yeah, her game is speed, elusiveness, crazy hands - agreed that I see it translating better against higher level men than Wickenheiser’s.

 

[abo9]

Just popping in, its a very interesting thread since she could become a historic figure in women's hockey (the best of the best have always been North American no?)

I feel like a lot of people here seem to use their experience following men athletes. Ie. That a 14-15 years old boy has a lot of growing to do and lots of physical maturity to gain.

However, I'd be curious how is it on the women side? Like, a lot of girls are done growing by 14-15. What about their physical maturity/muscle mass? Do they get athletically more "fit" all the way to 25 like men? Or do they tend to peak earlier?

I think she'll also be a good case study of that, since she's been spotted so young, unlike most (all?) other female hockey players

For eg:

Agreed, although physically, Caufield and DeBrincat are very stocky, little tanks. Marner is skinny but 6’. She could have a similar physique to Gaudreau, though. Johnny Hockey is listed at 5’9” 165 lbs, and that feels generous. Nela is already 5’7” 146 lbs, and she just turned 15 a couple days ago, I could see her hitting 5’9” 165 lbs. FWIW Wickenheiser was 5’9” 175 lbs.

But yeah, her game is speed, elusiveness, crazy hands - agreed that I see it translating better against higher level men than Wickenheiser’s.

Do girls typically grow 2-3 inches after 15? I wouldnt doubt it about a boy, but physical development is different for both genders

 

[ponder]

Just popping in, its a very interesting thread since she could become a historic figure in women's hockey (the best of the best have always been North American no?)

I feel like a lot of people here seem to use their experience following men athletes. Ie. That a 14-15 years old boy has a lot of growing to do and lots of physical maturity to gain.

However, I'd be curious how is it on the women side? Like, a lot of girls are done growing by 14-15. What about their physical maturity/muscle mass? Do they get athletically more "fit" all the way to 25 like men? Or do they tend to peak earlier?

I think she'll also be a good case study of that, since she's been spotted so young, unlike most (all?) other female hockey players

For eg:



Do girls typically grow 2-3 inches after 15? I wouldnt doubt it about a boy, but physical development is different for both genders

I believe the 5’7” 146 lb measurements are from the start of the season, when she was 14.5 yrs old. According to the CDC, from 14.5-20 girls grow an average of ~1.25” and ~20lbs: https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41l022.pdf

So yeah, her getting to 5’9” would be above average growth, but not way above average. 5’8” seems more likely, though.

Regardless, her getting to roughly Gaudreau size/build is about right IMO. Though obviously Gaudreau is an outlier, one of the smallest NHLers when considering the combo of height and slight build.

 

[Garl]

Guys, she will not have Gaudreau's built, she is a woman))

 

[sennysensen]

She will become the best women's player ever. She has no chance to be anywhere close to the NHL, probably not even the CHL.

The best woman's player, Hayley Wickenheiser and her team regularly played against boys AA Midget all-stars, and lost most games.. AA Midgets aren't even top level prospects, none of them will make the OHL / WHL / QMJHL.

It's the same now, the Olympic team with the best women's players in the world still tune up against boys AA midget all-star teams, and lose most of the games, and that's with hitting not allowed.

I'm not being sexist either, have been to several women's hockey World Cup games, it's good hockey, and I enjoyed it. I just believe in the truth and calling it like it is.

 

[austin63867]

She will become the best women's player ever. She has no chance to be anywhere close to the NHL, probably not even the CHL.

The best woman's player, Hayley Wickenheiser and her team regularly played against boys AA Midget all-stars, and lost most games.. AA Midgets aren't even top level prospects, none of them will make the OHL / WHL / QMJHL.

It's the same now, the Olympic team with the best women's players in the world still tune up against boys AA midget all-star teams, and lose most of the games, and that's with hitting not allowed.

I'm not being sexist either, have been to several women's hockey World Cup games, it's good hockey, and I enjoyed it. I just believe in the truth and calling it like it is.

I never liked the girls teams vs boys team argument because one girl on a boys team vs boys is gonna play better than on an all girls team vs boys

 

[kudla]

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

Guys, she will not have Gaudreau's built, she is a woman))

I mean outside of the obvious stuff...you don't think she can get up to 150 pounds at 5'9 as a woman?

I think she can.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I mean outside of the obvious stuff...you don't think she can get up to 150 pounds at 5'9 as a woman?

I think she can.

Whether she can or not there is a biological difference in males and females even at the same height and weight. It is not apples to apples.

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

Whether she can or not there is a biological difference in males and females even at the same height and weight. It is not apples to apples.

At a macro level, yeah absolutely.

Do I think a woman has the capability of matching maybe the scrawniest physique in the NHL in terms of size and strength? Yeah I think so.

 

[wetcoast]

I have no doubt that a woman can be as skilled as the pros. It's when the testosterone kicks in that the separation happens, and I'm thinking in a U16 league, this is the closest she is going to be to her male peers for the rest of her playing career.

Agree with this the physical differences really start to take over around this age but it's an exciting thing when a non North American female player like this is emerging as that is what the female game needs.

 

[austin63867]

Agree with this the physical differences really start to take over around this age but it's an exciting thing when a non North American female player like this is emerging as that is what the female game needs.

I don't think anyone is saying she'll be in the NHL. Maybe drafted. But the expectation is that maybe she'll play men's leagues in Europe.

I said it before, but until she plays U18, it's not clear just how good she can be at the next level.

 

[wetcoast]

I don't think anyone is saying she'll be in the NHL. Maybe drafted. But the expectation is that maybe she'll play men's leagues in Europe.

I said it before, but until she plays U18, it's not clear just how good she can be at the next level.

Sure maybe in a really weak men's league like Slovakia but either way her future is in womans hockey not the men's leagues.

 

[austin63867]

Sure maybe in a really weak men's league like Slovakia but either way her future is in womans hockey not the men's leagues.

Yeah, maybe she'll play in the Slovakian men's league and be alright, which is still good. Could even move to Finland or Sweden like Slafkovsky or Dvorsky and play 1st or 2nd league there, unless she wants to play the women's game. Could go the USHL/NAHL route if she's good enough even and play women's NCAA after.