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It’s been a rocky road for Toronto, but Greg Vanney’s squad has turned the corner in 2016. They are preparing for their first Eastern Conference final against Canadian rivals Montreal next weekend, but have to start considering their protected list for the upcoming Expansion Draft as well.
Some decisions are already made for them, with Designated Players Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco reportedly having no-trade clauses in their contract. This requires that they are part of the protected list. Toronto also has quite a few players exempt from the Expansion Draft as Homegrown Players and Generation adidas signings.
Projected Protected List
- Jozy Altidore
- Steven Beitashour
- Michael Bradley
- Marky Delgado
- Sebastian Giovinco
- Clint Irwin
- Will Johnson
- Drew Moor
- Justin Morrow
- Jonathan Osorio
- Eriq Zavaleta
Exempt List
- Alex Bono
- Jay Chapman
- Jordan Hamilton
- Chris Mannella
- Ashtone Morgan
- Quillan Roberts
Available Players
- Mo Babouli
- Mark Bloom
- Benoit Cheyrou
- Armando Cooper
- Tsubasa Endoh
- Nick Hagglund
- Daniel Lovitz
- Tosaint Ricketts
- Clement Simonin
- Josh Williams
Potential Targets for Atlanta United: Mark Bloom, Tsubasa Endoh, Nick Hagglund
Jason: Mark Bloom is a strong contender for selection, and not just because of his local ties. An outside back who can play on either side and get forward, Bloom would likely be a nice fit in Tata Martino’s system. A potential starter at a nice salary cap number, Bloom could absolutely be a target.
Tsubasa Endoh is a promising young talent who doesn’t have an easy route for first team soccer in Toronto. He scored twice in 21 appearances for Toronto in his rookie campaign after four strong seasons at the University of Maryland. He is a technical player that could flourish in Martino’s system.
Nick Hagglund has been in and out of the Toronto rotation since he joined the club from Xavier University in 2014. A former first round pick in the SuperDraft, Hagglund could start for many MLS teams.
Rob: Toronto’s potential available player list isn’t stacked with household names, but there are some possible gems in there. Georgia native Mark Bloom is versatile fullback who could help a lot of teams. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken by either team in the earlier rounds.
Nick Hagglund was all the rage a few years ago. There was even some future USMNT hype thrown his way. That never materialized, but the talent is there. A change of scenery could do him some good.
Endoh is another possible candidate. A utility forward with adequate technique, he’d be a solid role player for an expansion club. I sort of just want him for all the puns and awesome chants we could come up with. Snoop Dogg remix in the supporters section, please.