There should be no questioning Tyler Barnes' commitment to the University of Wisconsin men's hockey program.

Barnes, a 19-year-old right winger from Eagan, Minn., originally committed to the Badgers in the fall of 2007. He then signed a national letter of intent last November to enroll at UW for 2009-10.

But Barnes got caught up in a numbers game when center Blake Geoffrion and left winger John Mitchell decided to return to the Badgers for their senior seasons instead of turning pro as UW coach Mike Eaves had anticipated.

Eaves asked Barnes if he would defer his scholarship until 2010-11 and return to Waterloo of the U.S. Hockey League. Barnes agreed, which is why he is among the UW recruits who are in the process of completing letters of intent during the current week-long NCAA early signing period that began Wednesday.

"I understand where they came from," Barnes said this week. "The problems they ran into, with players coming back and everything like that, it wasn't in their hands. It wasn't like they tried to do that on purpose. It's no hard feelings on either end."

Barnes said it's worked out for the best because, while he was really looking forward to starting school, his playing time with the Badgers would likely be minimal given the logjam of veterans. He's focused on getting bigger and stronger, while taking two online courses.

"I've always liked the school and really liked the coaches," Barnes said. "I never had any reason to look other places."

Mark Zengerle, a 20-year-old center with Salmon Arm of the British Columbia Hockey League, also confirmed he will be signing this month.

It's expected the Badgers will sign up to five more prospects during the early period. Among the prime candidates are 19-year-old defenseman Chase Drake from Mosinee (Sioux City, USHL), 20-year-old winger Jefferson Dahl from Eau Claire (Youngstown, USHL), 17-year-old winger Mike Mersch (U.S. National Development Program) and 17-year-old defenseman Frankie Simonelli (USNTDP).

NCAA rules prohibit Eaves from commenting on prospects until after their letters of intent are received by the school. That deadline is Wednesday.

The number of incoming recruits will likely match the number of outgoing seniors, seven, all of whom are forwards. As usual, multiple UW underclassmen could leave and sign with their NHL clubs after the season. That would lead to more prospects coming on board during the spring signing period.

Barnes and Zengerle, from Rochester, N.Y., have the highest profiles. Barnes is one of the top scorers in the USHL with seven goals and seven assists in 10 games. Zengerle leads the BCHL in scoring with 15-39-54 in 25 games.

"I think I'm playing really well, actually," Zengerle said. "As far as the point total goes, it's going pretty well, but I think I'm doing good on the other side of the puck (defensively). Overall, I've improved a lot as a two-way game goes."

Zengerle will be 21 when his college career begins, which is older than usual for UW, but he has no qualms about playing another year of juniors even though he put up elite numbers last season (31-62-93 in 54 games).

"I wasn't too upset at this point that I'd be going in in 2010," he said, "just because I knew I'd come in and be kind of a more important guy rather than if I was there this year.

"It's good that I've been able to develop another year (in juniors). A lot of guys will be heading out (from the Badgers), which kind of gave more opportunities for when I come."

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