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

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Probably too drastic of a move given how greasey the world is, but think a CHL team will take a chance and select her ?

 

[ijuka]

When a girl scores 19 PTS against grown women, you start to wonder if she's too good to play against women.

Yeah, but at least in Finland, Women's national team tends to play practice matches vs Boys' u16 club teams, and tends to not exactly win.

Still, Finnish boys' leagues might be good challenge. And plenty of girls play in them, though usually they're about 2 years overage.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Why not just keep faith alive that she'll make it into a men's league and if she doesn't still congratulate her for trying? Don't understand the constant "YOU HAVE TO REALIZE SOMETHING. MEN. AND. WOMEN. THEY ARE DIFFERENT" posts. It's the same thing that kept that thread about the woman drafted to the CHL thing alive for post after post.

Maybe she'll make it, maybe she won't. But damn you'll look like an idiot if you write her off at 15, never having watched her play just because you feel the need to remind everyone that she's a woman.

 

[austin63867]

Probably too drastic of a move given how greasey the world is, but think a CHL team will take a chance and select her ?

Possibly in the import draft. It would depend on how good she is then. Doesn't mean she'd play there but there's been a few female draft picks in the CHL recently so it's not entirely out of the question. I was thinking USHL because they've had success with Slovaks recently. NAHL has some Euro talent also.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Probably too drastic of a move given how greasey the world is, but think a CHL team will take a chance and select her ?

I doubt it. Euro spots are incredibly valuable and have a hard time seeing a team taking that much of a chance with one when you can only have a couple Euros as it is. Not impossible though.

 

[wetcoast]

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.

I don't think that a move to a North American league like USHL/NAHL would be a good move for her, open ice against European competition in a lower men's league might happen sure but the physical differences are just enormous look at how the best Canadian woman stacked up against the best U17s in Canada.

 

[wetcoast]

Why not just keep faith alive that she'll make it into a men's league and if she doesn't still congratulate her for trying? Don't understand the constant "YOU HAVE TO REALIZE SOMETHING. MEN. AND. WOMEN. THEY ARE DIFFERENT" posts. It's the same thing that kept that thread about the woman drafted to the CHL thing alive for post after post.

Maybe she'll make it, maybe she won't. But damn you'll look like an idiot if you write her off at 15, never having watched her play just because you feel the need to remind everyone that she's a woman.

The Giants drafting Chloe Primerano was a publicity stunt and most here aren't trying to hold the woman's game back they are just being realistic.

I hope that she becomes a superstar in woman's hockey since a non North American would certainly help grow the sport and competition.

 

[austin63867]

I don't think that a move to a North American league like USHL/NAHL would be a good move for her, open ice against European competition in a lower men's league might happen sure but the physical differences are just enormous look at how the best Canadian woman stacked up against the best U17s in Canada.

Are you talking about the Challenge Cup? Yeah, that was the best players tho so it wasn't too fair. It was unfortunately a battle they couldn't keep up with. Although MPP looked good against them, and Jenner was decent. They fell apart without Poulin in one of the games tho IIRC.

The Giants drafting Chloe Primerano was a publicity stunt and most here aren't trying to hold the woman's game back they are just being realistic.

I hope that she becomes a superstar in woman's hockey since a non North American would certainly help grow the sport and competition.

Tbf, Primerano has the stays typical of where she was taken. Last time I checked she was in the girls CSSHL and was by far the best player as a D.

 

[LuLover96]

The Giants drafting Chloe Primerano was a publicity stunt and most here aren't trying to hold the woman's game back they are just being realistic.

I hope that she becomes a superstar in woman's hockey since a non North American would certainly help grow the sport and competition.

I mean, have you watched her play live? I have, and there's some real talent and potential for a defensive defender with offensive flair. Maybe the giants wanted good karma, but her potential is right in line with those taken in similar spots.

 

[wetcoast]

Are you talking about the Challenge Cup? Yeah, that was the best players tho so it wasn't too fair. It was unfortunately a battle they couldn't keep up with. Although MPP looked good against them, and Jenner was decent. They fell apart without Poulin in one of the games tho IIRC.

My point was that Poulin who is arguably the best woman hockey player in the world playing in a familiar system with familiar players didn't really do much against the U17s who were split into 3 different teams and unfamiliar with each other.

sure I expect someone in the future to do better but that's still a huge gap and reality right now.

Tbf, Primerano has the stays typical of where she was taken. Last time I checked she was in the girls CSSHL and was by far the best player as a D.

She is doing extremely well but the point was that where she was taken was basically an afterthought, boys taken in those rounds rarely make it to the CHL and it was a publicity stunt.

I'm also not making any judgment on her as a player but rather pointing out what the team and
Michael Bublé did with good intentions.

 

[BondraTime]

Probably too drastic of a move given how greasey the world is, but think a CHL team will take a chance and select her ?

Nope, no team is wasting an import slot like that

 

[wetcoast]

I mean, have you watched her play live?

No I haven't seen her play live and I'm sure that's true for 99%+ of the posters here.

I have, and there's some real talent and potential for a defensive defender with offensive flair. Maybe the giants wanted good karma, but her potential is right in line with those taken in similar spots.

Most players taken in the 13th round in the WHL bantam draft never play in the WHL and she is 135lbs not a good recipe for predicting any WHL action.

There was a tiny US boy who was magic in his early teens and did play in the NCAA but had zero impact but I have forgotten his name, also a tiny Japanese hotshot who came to the lower mainland and did excellent in tournaments and has dropped off the hockey map.

Nela has a larger frame and will do better as she is a far better prospect in the woman's game at this point.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

It's going to be interesting. You wonder if somebody like that who has clearly put in an insane amount of time with her stickhandling could put in the hours and hours in the gym that it would take to lessen the biological disadvantage. I mean, look at women body builders, ultimate fighters, etc. They could kick any of our asses.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It's going to be interesting. You wonder if somebody like that who has clearly put in an insane amount of time with her stickhandling could put in the hours and hours in the gym that it would take to lessen the biological disadvantage. I mean, look at women body builders, ultimate fighters, etc. They could kick any of our asses.

Right but she wouldn't be competing against some random joes on HFBoards. She would be needing to compete against male professional athletes, who are also dedicated to their profession and go to the gym.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

Right but she wouldn't be competing against some random joes on HFBoards. She would be needing to compete against male professional athletes, who are also dedicated to their profession and go to the gym.

Yeah I know, just saying that she would need to outdo all of them at the gym by a wide margin. I just think if anyone can do it, its somebody with the obvious enthusiasm for the game that she does.

BTW I'm not saying nhler, I'm saying someone who could do well at a competent mens league in Europe. For the women's game to develop an nhler, women's hockey needs to explode way more than it has. Maybe seeing a women compete well in a men's league would go a long way for that.

 

[Bubbles]

No I haven't seen her play live and I'm sure that's true for 99%+ of the posters here.

Most players taken in the 13th round in the WHL bantam draft never play in the WHL and she is 135lbs not a good recipe for predicting any WHL action.

There was a tiny US boy who was magic in his early teens and did play in the NCAA but had zero impact but I have forgotten his name, also a tiny Japanese hotshot who came to the lower mainland and did excellent in tournaments and has dropped off the hockey map.

Nela has a larger frame and will do better as she is a far better prospect in the woman's game at this point.

I also believe Primerano's father is a close friend of Giants owner Ron Toigo. Toigo also drafted his nephews in the 11th rounds a few years back, so put two and two together.

The US kid, are you talking about Emilio Pettersen? He was a Norwegian kid that was the hype on this board, he's still 22 and doing ok in the AHL.

Aito Iguchi was never a real prospect. A few kids watched his Youtube and decided to make it their goal to hype him up on every imaginable social media outlet. He was 5'3 and allergic to physical play.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

No

No team would draft for marketing, even at 224. Easier to do so as a UDFA. Possible she's taken if she keeps this up, but she'd have to keep it up in the men's divisions as well.

In 2019, Montreal picked Kieran Ruscheinski in the 7th round. He was a complete nobody playing in midget. Months later when questioned about the pick, it was revealed that the Ruscheinski pick was the org's internal tribute to a scout for the Habs who had passed away and had been following Ruscheinski that season. It was stupid because they didn't even make it known to the public why the were doing it at first, and many Habs fans thought the guy could be a legit prospect.

Brodeur's son was a nobody who everybody had to pretend was real NHL prospect when the Devils picked him in the 7th round

Many examples

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Why not just keep faith alive that she'll make it into a men's league and if she doesn't still congratulate her for trying? Don't understand the constant "YOU HAVE TO REALIZE SOMETHING. MEN. AND. WOMEN. THEY ARE DIFFERENT" posts. It's the same thing that kept that thread about the woman drafted to the CHL thing alive for post after post.

Maybe she'll make it, maybe she won't. But damn you'll look like an idiot if you write her off at 15, never having watched her play just because you feel the need to remind everyone that she's a woman.

Yeah basically my take, its impossible until it isint, good for her for tearing it up and I wish her luck

 

[Stealth1616]

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.

No kidding don’t know why people don’t get this. 99/100 a 150 male will have more strength then a 150 pound female.

Some need to really research the quality of competition in the men’s/women’s game.

That’s without body contact too.

My beer league team would absolutely roll the Canadians women’s national team lol

 

[Number 57]

In 2019, Montreal picked Kieran Ruscheinski in the 7th round. He was a complete nobody playing in midget. Months later when questioned about the pick, it was revealed that the Ruscheinski pick was the org's internal tribute to a scout for the Habs who had passed away and had been following Ruscheinski that season. It was stupid because they didn't even make it known to the public why the were doing it at first, and many Habs fans thought the guy could be a legit prospect.

Brodeur's son was a nobody who everybody had to pretend was real NHL prospect when the Devils picked him in the 7th round

Many examples

In 2008 the Lightning drafted David Carle in the last round of the draft. Carle had been diagnosed with a heart condition prior to the draft, but the Bolts owner picked him out of respect because his son went to school with him. Carle did not even play a single game of organized hockey after the draft (2007-08 was his last season before he had to retire)

 

[theslatcher]

In 2019, Montreal picked Kieran Ruscheinski in the 7th round. He was a complete nobody playing in midget. Months later when questioned about the pick, it was revealed that the Ruscheinski pick was the org's internal tribute to a scout for the Habs who had passed away and had been following Ruscheinski that season. It was stupid because they didn't even make it known to the public why the were doing it at first, and many Habs fans thought the guy could be a legit prospect.

Brodeur's son was a nobody who everybody had to pretend was real NHL prospect when the Devils picked him in the 7th round

Many examples

Same with Kris Draper's son in 2020.

 

[Garl]

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.

She can grow to 210 pounds and be a 5'9 210 enforcer like Tie Domi

I mean why not, it is 5'9 210

 

[Garl]

It's going to be interesting. You wonder if somebody like that who has clearly put in an insane amount of time with her stickhandling could put in the hours and hours in the gym that it would take to lessen the biological disadvantage. I mean, look at women body builders, ultimate fighters, etc. They could kick any of our asses.

She can be able to kick your ass and be 5'9 150 lbs, but still she will never overcome biological disadvantage.
Besides, do you really imply that other female players are not putting enormous work in the gym?

 

[wetcoast]

I also believe Primerano's father is a close friend of Giants owner Ron Toigo. Toigo also drafted his nephews in the 11th rounds a few years back, so put two and two together.

Well that makes even more sense now.

The US kid, are you talking about Emilio Pettersen? He was a Norwegian kid that was the hype on this board, he's still 22 and doing ok in the AHL.

No it was a really tiny guy that ended up playing in the Midwest somewhere about 15 years ago maybe, I never heard of the guy actually just ran across it in a thread and the guy never grew past 5'1".

Actully did some quick research and he was 5'3" Sean Dhooghe

5-Foot-3, but He Skates Above His Level (Published 2017)

A stellar performance over a two-year career may be enough to put Sean Dhooghe on the radar of N.H.L. executives heading into the draft in Chicago.

www.nytimes.com

Aito Iguchi was never a real prospect. A few kids watched his Youtube and decided to make it their goal to hype him up on every imaginable social media outlet. He was 5'3 and allergic to physical play.

I know but that was kind of my point as some people made him out to be with obviously very impressive tournaments at an extremely young age.

 

[Bubbles]

Well that makes even more sense now.

No it was a really tiny guy that ended up playing in the Midwest somewhere about 15 years ago maybe, I never heard of the guy actually just ran across it in a thread and the guy never grew past 5'1".

Actully did some quick research and he was 5'3" Sean Dhooghe

5-Foot-3, but He Skates Above His Level (Published 2017)

A stellar performance over a two-year career may be enough to put Sean Dhooghe on the radar of N.H.L. executives heading into the draft in Chicago.

www.nytimes.com

I know but that was kind of my point as some people made him out to be with obviously very impressive tournaments at an extremely young age.

Oh yeah, I remember that name now. Yeah, 5'3 is just way too short.

It's interesting to hear names, but this is why I don't pay much attention to prospects until they reach major junior (or whatever their equivalent before the pros).