ESPN2 to air expansion coin flip at All-Star Portland and Vancouver to find out who picks No. 1 in SuperDraft HOUSTON -- The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps may be several months away from officially joining MLS, but the expansion clubs will be right in the middle of the action at the All-Star Game festivities on Wednesday -- during halftime of the match between the MLS All-Stars and Manchester United. That's when a coin toss will take place to determine which of the two clubs gets the first pick among eight different MLS player acquisition procedures. ESPN2 will carry the coin toss during halftime of its All-Star coverage. Timbers head coach and general manager Gavin Wilkinson and Whitecaps director of professional teams Greg Anderson will join MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin for the event. On August 11, the two clubs will then take turns picking among the eight player mechanisms below, with each team claiming the No. 1 ranking in the specific player acquisition method they select. The winner of Wednesday's coin toss goes first. ■First pick in the Expansion Draft ■First pick in the MLS SuperDraft ■USL Player Priority on opening of signing period ■Allocation Ranking ■Designated Player Ranking ■Discovery Ranking ■Lottery Ranking ■Waiver/Re-entry Draft Ranking
It's a tough call, but I think I'd want the first pick in the Super Draft. Too bad you can't wait til the college season is over before deciding.
I think it depends on the priorities of the team. Its rare to have a year like this one where there are so many rookies who can contribute immediately that are also regarded as high draft picks. The roster restrictions on Vancouver are also something to consider as they don't have the American player requirement that the US based teams do, so the allocation ranking is worthless to them as they'll be ahead of Toronto regardless. If Vancouver is going with the Seattle model of trying to compete and win immediately, then they'll want first pick in the expansion draft. If they're going with Philly's model of building a young team with great potential, the amatuer draft pick is the obvious choice.
Timbers get first pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft. The Whitecaps have the first pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, and subsequently have priority in allocation ranking, USL player ranking and waiver/re-entry draft ranking.
Portland's picks seem to indicate that they are looking to win now and be more like Seattle than Philly. Should be must see TV when those two get together.
The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps took part in an Expansion Priority Draft on Monday and the result saw the Whitecaps choose the option of having the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 MLS Draft. Portland will pick second in the MLS Draft and will have the second pick in each round of the draft while the Whitecaps will have the top pick. Vancouver chose having the top pick in the 2011 draft over a variety of other roster building mechanisms, including having the top pick in the MLS expansion draft. The Portland Timbers will have that distinction, giving Timbers head coach John Spencer the first crack at players left available by the existing 16 MLS teams. VANCOUVER- First pick in the MLS SuperDraft PORTLAND- First pick in the Expansion Draft VANCOUVER- USSF Division- 2 Pro Player Priority on opening of signing period PORTLAND- Designated Player Ranking VANCOUVER- Allocation Ranking PORTLAND- Discovery Ranking VANCOUVER- Waiver/Re-entry Draft Ranking PORTLAND- Lottery Ranking
Whats the difference between the MLS Expansion Draft and MLS SuperDraft? Is it differences of US college players vs international players?
MLS expansion draft - expansion team(s) get to pick up unprotected players from other teams MLS SuperDraft - picking up rookies from colleges and academies