The week-long NCAA early signing period begins Nov. 11, but even though the Wisconsin men's hockey team has a long list of committed prospects and a ton of projected holes for 2010-11, coach Mike Eaves won't say how many will be brought into the fold next week.
"We're still talking about that,'' he said.
NCAA rules prohibit Eaves from identifying or discussing specific recruits until after they sign National Letters of Intent.
The Badgers could have 10 or more slots open up after this season, which is amazing when you consider that's more than a thrid of the roster. In addition to seven senior forwards exhausting their eligibility, six underclassmen could leave to turn pro depending on the type of season they have in 2009-10 and the eagerness of the NHL team that owns their draft rights.
Junior defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith were taken in the first round of the 2007 draft. McDonagh's rights have since been traded from Montreal to the New York Rangers, while Smith was chosen by Detroit.
Meanwhile, sophomore defenseman Jake Gardiner was a first-round selection of Anaheim and junior defenseman Cody Goloubef was a second-round pick of Columbus in 2008.
Two other prominent draftees whose work will be monitored are sophomore center Derek Stepan, a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2008, and junior goaltender Brett Bennett, a fifth-round choice of Phoenix in 2006.
Tyler Barnes, a 20-year-old center with Waterloo of the U.S. Hockey League, and Mark Zengerle, a 20-year-old center with Salmon Arm of the British Columbia Hockey League, are seen as locks to be signed next week.
Barnes had signed for 2009-10, but was deferred because his anticipated roster spot never opened up. Eaves projected that either center Blake Geoffrion or left winger John Mitchell would likely turn pro after the 2008-09 season, but both decided to return for their senior years.
Zengerle, meanwhile, is in his second season of putting up huge numbers in the BCHL and appears more than ready to make the jump to college.
Two other 20-year-olds -- winger Jefferson Dahl with Youngstown of the USHL and defenseman Chase Drake with Sioux City of the USHL -- are in the early signing mix as well. Dahl is from Eau Claire, while Drake is from Mosinee.
Those who don't sign early can do so in the spring signing period, which gives Eaves and his staff another full season to evaluate their progress.
