Future Badgers Malone, Linhart Tendered By USHL Clubs

The future of Wisconsin recruits Seamus Malone and Jake Linhart have been a topic of discussion recently, as both players contemplated where they would spend the next few seasons before eventually joining the Badgers.

Both players were selected in last weekends OHL draft. Linhart, a defenseman from Brookfield was selected by the Plymouth Whalers in the 9th round. Malone, a forward from Naperville, Ill was also taken by Plymouth later in the draft.

Neither player is expected to seriously consider the OHL route, and that was confirmed this week when both players made commitments to play in the USHL next season.

It was announced today that Malone, who is committed to the Badgers for the fall of 2015 has signed a tender to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. With the tender, Malone is required to play in at least 55% of Dubuques games next season in the USHL.

"The acquisition of Seamus continues our philosophy of scouting and adding players who have high hockey sense and a high compete level," said Fighting Saints Head Coach Jim Montgomery. "We believe that Seamus’ skill and drive will assist him to have success in the future, and help us win hockey games in Dubuque."

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette's Wes Hodkiewicz, Linhart has also signed a USHL tender. Hodkiewicz, who covers the USHL & prep hockey for the Gazette reported over the weekend that Linhart has signed a tender to play with the Green Bay Gamblers next season per Gamblers head coach Derek Lalonde.

Linhart, a 2014 Wisconsin recruit should have every opportunity in the world for playing time with Green Bay next season. The Gamblers are expected to lose the majority of their defensemen to college next season, so the 16 year old blue-liner will have a chance to prove himself early.

Malone and Linhart are the second players tendered by their respective USHL teams so far this year. Dubuque had previously tendered Waunakee, WI native Keegan Ford. Green Bay also tendered North Dakota recruit Brendan Lemiuex.

The tender process allows USHL teams to sign two players who are eligible for the Futures Draft to the roster prior to the draft process. By tendering Ford and Malone, the Dubuque will forfeit their second and third round Futures Draft picks for 2012. Same thing applies for Green Bay tendering Lemiuex and Linhart.

In all future seasons, tendering a player will result in a team forgoing its first round pick, and tendering a second player will result in forgoing the team’s second round pick. Because the rule was added at a late date this season, the picks that Dubuque and Green Bay will surrender this season are in the second and third rounds, per USHL rule.

Join the Badger conversation on Facebook! Go to our Facebook page and "like" us!

For more Wisconsin hockey coverage, follow Chuck on Twitter (@UWChuckSchwartz)

Chuck can also be reached via e-mail at chuckschwartz@live.com