Whitecaps opt for first overall SuperDraft pick

NEW YORK — The Vancouver Whitecaps secured the first selection in the 2011 SuperDraft while the Portland Timbers opted for the first selection in the Expansion Draft after the two 2011 expansion clubs took turns selecting their priority among the eight player acquisition mechanisms on Monday afternoon.

The Whitecaps got the first selection among the eight processes by virtue of winning a coin toss conducted at the MLS All-Star game in Houston.

Gavin Wilkinson represented Portland while Vancouver director of soccer operations Tom Soehn announced the selections for the Whitecaps.

Expansion Priority Draft Results
1. MLS SuperDraft

• Vancouver will have the 1st selection in each round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, including the 1st overall selection. Portland will have the 2nd overall selection and the 2nd selection in each following round.
• The selection order for the remaining 14 teams is determined by reverse order of regular season finish in 2010. The SuperDraft consists of four rounds as clubs select from a list of eligible players such as college seniors and Generation adidas signings. The SuperDraft will be held in January in conjunction with the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore.

2. Expansion Draft

• Portland will select 1st, Vancouver will select 2nd.
• The two expansion clubs will select a total of 10 current players each to be added to their rosters, alternating after each player selection. MLS clubs may protect 11 players from their roster who, along with Generation adidas players that will not graduate after the 2010 season, and Home Grown players, will be ineligible for selection by the two expansion clubs. This draft will be held after MLS Cup and before the SuperDraft in January at a date to be announced later.

3. Allocation Ranking

• Vancouver will occupy the 1st spot in the Allocation Rankings, while Portland will rank 2nd, followed by the remaining MLS clubs, in reverse order of finish in the 2010 season, taking into account playoff performance.
• Allocations are used in the event that tow or more teams file a request for the same player on the same day (i.e. in the case of returning U.S. National team players and/or any other player the league is its discretion believes should be allovated using the rankings.)

4. Designated Player Ranking

• Portland will occupy the 1st spot in the Designated Player Ranking, Vancouver will occupy the 2nd spot, followed by the remaining MLS clubs, in reverse order of finish in the 2010 season, taking into account playoff performance.
• In the event that a player is requested by more than one team in the same day, the Designated Player Ranking will be used to determine which team has priority.

5. USSF Division-2 Pro League Player Priority Ranking

• Vancouver will occupy the 1st spot in the USSF Division-2 Pro Rankings, while Portland will rank 2nd.
• Vancouver and Portland will have priority over players on their current roster and one other USSF Division-2 Pro league player, subject to another MLS club’s right of first refusal. Should both clubs request the same player on the opening day, Vancouver will have the first right to add the player to its roster.

6. Discovery Ranking

• Portland will occupy the 17th place in the rankings prior to the season while Vancouver will occupy the 18th.
• The Discovery Ranking is determined by average points per game during the then current League season with the team with the lower points per game average earning priority over the team with higher points per game average.