Wilfredo Lee
The Vancouver Whitecaps haven't played a minute of MLS soccer yet and they're kicking TFC's butt already.
The MLS Superdraft is taking place this afternoon and the expansion Whitecaps have three picks in the top-20 and the first overall, including the No.8 pick they obtained from TFC.
Because TFC is owned by MLSE; the same organization that endorsed the Phil Kessel trade; TFC will be without a first round pick - you think it's easy never making the playoffs? It takes planning; a studious determination to trade your own draft picks.
While, as Marc Webber points out, picking first overall in the Superdraft isn't like picking first overall in the NBA draft - only one of the 15 MVP's in league history were No.1 picks - it is a reliable source for talent: the draft can still deliver players -- especially in the first round -- who can contribute right away and contribute significantly. Last year's top pick, forward Danny Mwanga, was second on the Philadelphia Union with seven goals, and the top five picks all started the majority of their team's games.The year prior, most of the top 10 were seeing significant minutes, and this year's draft class is considered a strong one.
Toronto FC can only wonder, having surrendered their first-round pick with Vancouver FC in exchange for defensive midfielder Nathan Sturgis. The new management are -- predicably -- still confident they can find some talent picking 26th.
Here's the mock draft you've been waiting for, by the way. The most recognizable name to the casual fan may be John Rooney, younger brother of the famous Wayne.
Update: The Whitecaps surprised many when they took 17-year-old Omar Salgado; a 6-4 forward who trained for two years in Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara's academy system and became part of Mexico's under-17 and under-20 youth team programs before coming back to the US and playing for the U20 program. One line of thinking was that Salgado was taken more for his potential value on the transfer market than his long term role with the Whitecaps. Even without a first-round pick TFC made a splash, trading striker Chad Barrett to the LA Galaxy for future considerations.