Stage 2 of Re-Entry Draft highlighted by busy Galaxy

NEW YORK – The LA Galaxy were easily the most active team in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday, scooping up four new players and opting to try and re-negotiate with two of their own as they look to defend their MLS Cup championship in 2012.

The New England Revolution also selected two players while trying to rebuild for next season, and the Colorado Rapids also picked two new pieces to the puzzle as they look to regain the form that led them to the MLS Cup in 2010.

All teams who selected players in the draft on Monday now have seven days to make an offer to each player taken. All players who were not taken in the draft are now available to be negotiated with on a first-come, first-serve basis.

No team was busier than LA, however, and no voice more prevalent on the league-wide conference call than manager Bruce Arena, who picked so many times that he quipped the Galaxy had taken Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi with their fifth-round pick before adding, “We’re exhausted.”

But the other picks were very real for the Galaxy, who are looking to shore up their depth ahead of a berth in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League and a shot to defend their MLS title.

The Galaxy selected defenders Andrew Boyens and Chris Leitch, forward Pat Noonan (pictured, at right) and goalkeeper Jon Conway with their first four picks, and then used the chance to pick their own veterans Dasan Robinson and Frankie Hejduk, who both went unselected in the draft after the Galaxy declined their options following the 2011 season.

While the potential additions of Boyens and Leitch and returns of Robinson and Hejduk should help the team’s depth on defense, the addition of Noonan gives them another veteran presence in the attacking end. Noonan joined the league in 2003 and spent five fruitful years with the New England Revolution, but he’s bounced around since then and spent the past two years with the Seattle Sounders.

The Revolution, meanwhile, went for two league veterans with their picks. They selected former Sounders striker Nate Jaqua in the first round and then opted for D.C. United veteran midfielder Clyde Simms in the second round, potentially landing of their conference rivals’ most established players over the past seven seasons.

The Rapids were also aggressive from the get-go, selecting former Chicago Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic in the first round and then taking a shot on former Houston Dynamo defender Hunter Freeman in the second round.

The Sounders traded with the Vancouver Whitecaps to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and used it to select defender Marc Burch, who spent the past five seasons with D.C. United. The Sounders swapped their natural third round selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft in the deal with Vancouver.

The Chicago Fire used their first-round pick to potentially make a push for the postseason next year with forward Kheli Dube, who appeared in at least 20 games each of the last three seasons for the New England Revolution.

All other teams passed on their picks on Monday, leaving a number of proven MLS veterans with their futures in doubt. All-time leading scorer Jeff Cunningham tops that list of players left out in the cold at least for now, along with goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, defender Chris Albright and midfielders Stefani Miglioranzi and Pat Phelan.

STAGE 2 RE-ENTRY DRAFT PICKS