Olivier Tremblay covers the Impact on MLSsoccer.com
Montreal's budget space is limited.
This, at least, is what Montreal Impact sporting director Nick De Santis hinted at when he spoke to local newspaper Le Journal de Montréal on Tuesday. The Impact scratched a number of six-figure contracts off the books, but picked up options on 15 players for the 2014 season, several of which were rather costly, De Santis had told MLSsoccer.com last month.
This Thursday's 2014 MLS SuperDraft represents an opportunity for most MLS clubs, including the Impact, to add "cap-friendly players," as Montreal technical director Matt Jordan puts it.
In all likelihood, Montreal are determined to land immediate contributors with the 10th, 29th, 37th, 48th and 67th picks: their first team currently includes only 21 players, with the status of defender Nelson Rivas and midfielder Andres Romero still undecided.
“You always look at it with the hope of getting one or two pieces that can contribute to your team," Jordan told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Friday. "That’s the approach that we take as well.”
Then again, when it comes to salary cap-friendly deals, Homegrown Players are also more and more of an option – Montreal have five themselves – which Jordan feels impacted the draft pool and probably even removed at least one prospect from the Generation adidas equation.
“League-wide, and most clubs agree, the landscape of the draft is changing with the growth of our academies and the amount of Homegrown signings,” Jordan said. "If you look at a player like Harrison Shipp, this is a player who would very likely be a top 10 pick but who’s signed with Chicago. Jordan Allen has signed with Salt Lake, and he would probably be in the discussion for a GA deal."
In 2013, Montreal added more Homegrown Players (four) than they signed draft picks (two, including the now-departed Paolo DelPiccolo). Such HGP numbers appear unlikely for 2014, but Jordan sounds enthusiastic about the value to be found in the upcoming SuperDraft.
“There’s a lot of good players and we feel that we’ve done a good job of doing all the necessary homework and work before we came here to have a very good feel for these players,” Jordan said.
