Montreal Impact: A Big Week Ahead
The week of December 8th will be a busy one for Frank Klopas and the rest of the Montreal Impact management staff.
With the Los Angeles Galaxy topping the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup Final the Major League Soccer offseason can officially begin.
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For the Impact and various other teams on the outside looking in on the playoffs, the offseason has already started. In fact, they have been off for a month and a half.
Montreal has used this time to hire themselves a new Technical Director in Adam Braz and make a much-anticipated signing when they brought in Marco Donadel.
But this will be a big week for the Impact and all MLS teams for that matter, as five big events are happening that will bring plenty of player and asset movement. It will certainly be exciting, so be sure to check back with La Metropole Sports for all the breaking news and analysis.
This is pretty self-explanatory I think. Teams weren’t allowed to make trades during the MLS Playoffs, but will be able exchange players or re-sign their own from 9 a.m. EST to 1 p.m. EST. They will then be blacked-out again until the end of the Expansion Draft, which…
Expansion Draft – December 10th
will be held Wednesday, December 10th.
This special draft is for the two new franchises that will be entering MLS in 2015, New York City FC and Orlando City SC. Both teams will select eleven players from the other MLS clubs ‘exposed’ list, with Orlando picking first.
Each of the 19 other clubs will be allowed to protect eleven players on their rosters. The ones that are not protected will be available to be selected by OCSC and NYCFC.
More information on the Expansion Draft and who the Impact will be protecting is coming soon.
Next: Grading The Montreal Impact's 2014 Signings
Waiver Draft – December 10th
The Impact will likely lose a player or two in the Expansion Draft, but fret not Montreal fans, because your team has the chance to pick up an exciting in player in the Waiver Draft.
This draft presents the opportunity to selected players who have failed to reach a new contract agreement with their MLS clubs or, for whatever reason, are ineligible for the Re-Entry Draft (see below). The draft order is the reverse of the 2014 standings, which means the Impact will be selecting first overall.
This presents the chance to draft a player with experience in the league.
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Trade Window Re-Opens – December 10th
A busy Wednesday is capped off with the trade window re-opening. It’s not going to be NHL Trade Deadline Day material, but if the Impact want to make a move to compensate for the player(s) they lost in the Expansion Draft, the time is now.
Re-Entry Draft (Stage One)- December 12th
It’s basically the same story as the Waiver Draft, only there are more players eligible. The Impact will be selecting first overall in this draft, too. Stage Two of the draft will be held next week on December 18th.
Last year, a couple of decent players changed teams, such as Sean Franklin, Bobby Boswell (both going to DC United) and Steve Zakuani (Portland Timbers).
It will be interesting to see if the front office makes moves in both the Waiver Draft and Re-Entry Draft or only one of the two. They have the number one overall selection in both, so they have the freedom to pick and chose.
That being said, this whole week will speak volumes as to how management views the team and where it stands in their opinion.
One thing is for sure and that is that La Metropole Sports will be providing you with coverage throughout this week and the entire offseason!