2007 MLS Expansion Draft...

Steven Goff is reporting that the 2007 Expansion Draft will take place next Wednesday, 11-21-07 pending final league confirmation. It should look like the 2006 version held a year ago where Toronto FC selected 10 players from 12 teams. For some reason the number has been elevated to 11 players this year for the San Jose expansion. Each team can only lose one player and two teams will not lose anyone. Teams are allowed to protect 11 players and those lists will be made public on Tuesday, 11/20/07.

Who would you protect on your favorite team keeping in mind that only 1 senior international is allowed to be unprotected and Generation Adidas players are automatically protected.

Depending on the team, I think many of the young guys are safe. For example, I don't see Stephen Keel or Colin Clark being selected from the Rapids. I think Yallop will prefer to fill those developmental roster slots through the draft, local tryouts or "off-market" deals with un-drafted rookies and USL players.

It is always interesting after the expansion draft to see who the building blocks of a team will be. However, you'll notice that not one of Toronto FC's expansion selections are still with the team.

Below is the complete list of players selected in the 2006 MLS Expansion Draft (taken from club) including where they are now.

1. Paulo Nagamura (Los Angeles Galaxy) - Chivas USA
2. Danny O'Rourke (New York Red Bulls) - Columbus
3. Jose Cancela (New England Revolution) - Colorado
4. Adrian Serioux (Houston Dynamo) - Dallas
5. Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire) - Houston
6. Rod Dyachenko (D.C. United) - DC United
7. Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake) - Coach RSL
8. Tim Regan (Chivas USA) - New York
9. Ritchie Kotschau (Columbus Crew) - RSL
10. Will Hesmer (Kansas City Wizards) - Columbus

If nothing else the expansion draft in 2007 will reallocate journeymen soccer players in MLS.