Patty Kazmaier 2026

[Heynow]

All three finalists are great players.

Reality is only Janecke should still be in college. Murphy & Harvey are 2002’s (as are Eden & Chan) and should be in the PW. Not blaming them for the system but you can’t deny it’s an advantage

For what its worth, Janecke and Harvey were high school teammates when Harvey was a senior and Janecke a junior at NAHA. Both were prolific, with Janecke averaging more ppg.

All 3 are great players and will be the top 3 picks in the draft.

 

[LBartowski]

I completely agree. They were the 3 most deserving players and the biggest difference makers in ncaa women’s hockey this year. Any one is a great person and a great pick for the award.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

If you actually knew something about hockey, you would see she has to play 200ft. D zone mostly. Giving 110% percent each shift. The conference doesn’t matter. The WCHA has two teams and you judge the conference by that.
In the WCHA teams don’t key on 1 person. I’m the AHA they do. If Harvey played there, she would have half the points and she would have to work through frustration. Look at last night. She got knocked down and then stood up and butt ended a player and didn’t get called for it. Imagine that every game. And they hack, hook, hold, and play extremely dirty hockey. Most college players would be injured every year. She has 20 top tier players on her team and she can get away with mistake plays. She’s good, buy you are judging a player without realizing what is really happening. Without Harvey, Wisconsin is still a top 3. Without Janecke, PSU never breaks the top 15. Ever.

If only I knew as much as you haha.

I never mentioned the conference and the Patty Kaz is not an MVP award.

You said that she proved it in last night's game. I didn't see it.

Looks like the voters don't know as much as you either. Such a shame.

 

[BuckyB]

Janecke will not be a top 3 pick… Harvey, Murphy, Edwards….. and then it’s anywhere 4-8

 

[joecct]

Weird stat?

Between Jamie Lee Rattray in 2014 and Casey O'Brien in 2025, not one Patty Kaz winner was a national champion.

 

[vicb]

Congrats to Caroline Harvey.

 

[Reddington]

I'm going to think she bounces one player. Say what you want but One Olympian vs 5 Olympians and Janecke had PSU right on the precipice. That is going to speak to someone. My comp has always been a female Tkachuk.
And of course that doesn't take away from any of the other girls up for draft.

 

[LBartowski]

I believe Kk is a great pick for the Kaz. So the voters do know something. I just think that some on this thread are completely biased about who is a great player. You feel like just because they didn’t play in the wcha makes them unworthy. That’s pathetic. You see only what you want and degrade others. BuckyB, you are totally clueless. All you do it hate on AHA and HE and say this kid would score this and that. Look at your previous posts. The 3 best players in the country and difference makers in their program were the finalists. I don’t know what the stats are but I would venture a bet that Janecke average two points in every wcha game she played. Stopped hating on PSU and see players on what they are.

 

[ZedLeppellin]

Janecke will not be a top 3 pick… Harvey, Murphy, Edwards….. and then it’s anywhere 4-8

In the PWHL draft top three, Harvey, yes...Murphy, yes...but Edwards? Over Janecke? Edwards has a good shot, and that's about the end of her game. The PWHL is full of players with a good shot - and a 200-foot game. Why do you think Team USA put her at defense?

 

[Timothy A]

In the PWHL draft top three, Harvey, yes...Murphy, yes...but Edwards? Over Janecke? Edwards has a good shot, and that's about the end of her game. The PWHL is full of players with a good shot - and a 200-foot game. Why do you think Team USA put her at defense?

Nobody has a shot like hers. She will be able to get her 190-ft game to 200 in the pros.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

Reality is only Janecke should still be in college. Murphy & Harvey are 2002’s (as are Eden & Chan) and should be in the PW. Not blaming them for the system but you can’t deny it’s an advantage

This is Caroline's 4th season at Wisconsin.

Her freshman season was 22-23.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Reality is only Janecke should still be in college. Murphy & Harvey are 2002’s (as are Eden & Chan) and should be in the PW. Not blaming them for the system but you can’t deny it’s an advantage

There is no situation in which all three wouldn't still be in college. As was pointed out, Harvey was a freshman in 2022-23, so she is simply a fourth year player.

Murphy is a slightly more complicated situation, but this would be her final year of college season regardless. Had the NCAA not told players that the 2021-22 season wouldn't count against their eligibility, there wouldn't have been a season at all. No one would have used up a year, and this would also be Murphy's fourth year.

 

[robertearle]

There is no situation in which all three wouldn't still be in college. As was pointed out, Harvey was a freshman in 2022-23, so she is simply a fourth year player.

Murphy is a slightly more complicated situation, but this would be her final year of college season regardless. Had the NCAA not told players that the 2021-22 season wouldn't count against their eligibility, there wouldn't have been a season at all. No one would have used up a year, and this would also be Murphy's fourth year.

You're a year off.

Going back one more year for reference, the 2019-20 season was played, and only the tournament was canceled. It was the 2020-21 season that "didn't count". 2021-22 counted for those playing and not "centralized".

Murphy played during 2020-21, and that was her COVID year that didn't count; then she centralized during 2021-22.

( I think Heynow was referring more to chronological, physical age, and not eligibility.)

 

[Gurth 2.0]

( I think Heynow was referring more to chronological, physical age, and not eligibility.)

Doesn't seem like it since it was implied that they shouldn't still be in college... should be in the pros.

Mentions the birth year sure, but KK is a late birthday (October) which is why she started in the year that she did.

Certainly wasn't an unfair "advantage" for KK.

EDIT: My bad - forgot that KK had the year that she took off for the Olympics.

 

[BowWowWow]

Regarding years spent after high school, Murphy and Harvey both centralized during college(?) with team USA for the Olympics in 2021-22. Murphy also played with UofM in 2020-21, though Harvey was still in high school. I am not saying Olympic centralization is bad or good or anything else, and now with the PWHL, it does not exist anymore.

 

[ARM]

Congratulations to Harvey, who was a very deserving Kaz winner, and just about everyone would agree. Her mobility, especially laterally, is second to none. She couples that with a shot that is both hard and accurate. She sees her teammates well, she can dangle when needed, but she doesn't fall in love with such plays. I'm sure that the team who winds up with the first choice will either draft her or look to trade the pick to someone who will pay heavily for her draft rights.

Regarding draft order of players, I think that different teams might prioritize different players in this draft class, based on what they already have on the roster. It sounds like there is likely to be more expansion, so that could turn everything upside down. Some teams may focus more on who will provide more highlights or sell more tickets. Offense is definitely a scarce commodity in the league, and expansion will make it even more so.

We've talked about lack of discipline from Murphy over the years, and she certainly deserves it much of the time. However, discipline is measured in more than one way, and seeing Janecke's breakaway goal on Friday, I have no idea what Harvey was thinking on that play. Three Badgers have already committed to go to the net; what value is there in a fourth player going to the net, compared to having a second D back when protecting a one-goal lead with five minutes left. At least hang back at the top of the circles as opposed to getting caught below the goal line. She'll need better situational awareness in the pros, even if the expectation is that she's there to contribute offensively.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

We've talked about lack of discipline from Murphy over the years, and she certainly deserves it much of the time. However, discipline is measured in more than one way, and seeing Janecke's breakaway goal on Friday, I have no idea what Harvey was thinking on that play. Three Badgers have already committed to go to the net; what value is there in a fourth player going to the net, compared to having a second D back when protecting a one-goal lead with five minutes left. At least hang back at the top of the circles as opposed to getting caught below the goal line. She'll need better situational awareness in the pros, even if the expectation is that she's there to contribute offensively.

Can't disagree with this. Well said.

As good as Harvey is, she still has a ways to go before she reaches her apex.

I would add though that Venusio being the only D at the point needs to be aware that a player went for a change and that someone might be behind her.

Big breakdown by both D on that play and pretty inexcusable.

 

[Timothy A]

Can't disagree with this. Well said.

As good as Harvey is, she still has a ways to go before she reaches her apex.

I would add though that Venusio being the only D at the point needs to be aware that a player went for a change and that someone might be behind her.

Big breakdown by both D on that play and pretty inexcusable.

There's a reason Venusio is #5. The flaw in rolling 5 d is the you can't look keep Jungles with KK. Jones has come along way but apparently she's not ready for do or die games yet.