FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s time to (unofficially) kick off the 2016 MLS season.
While players won’t report for preseason camp until next Friday (January 22) and the New England Revolution won’t play a meaningful game until March 6, this week’s SuperDraft marks the first official league event ahead of another MLS campaign.
We understand that many fans might be hazy on the details of this SuperDraft, so we’ve put together a sort of Frequently Asked Questions to hopefully provide some answers. And if there’s anything that hasn’t been answered here, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter (@jeff_lemieux).
When and where is the 2016 MLS SuperDraft taking place?
This year’s SuperDraft will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and the event is open to the general public.
The proceedings begin at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 14.
How can I follow the 2016 MLS SuperDraft?
For those unable to attend the SuperDraft in person, MLSSoccer.com will livestream the event and provide up-to-the-minute coverage as each selection is made. We’ll provide a link to the livestream here on revolutionsoccer.net closer to 1 p.m. ET on Thursday.
We’ll also provide full coverage from a Revolution angle before, during and after the SuperDraft, including a Revs-centric preview with Fox Soccer’s MLS Editor Kyle McCarthy on Wednesday evening.
Coverage from the event will include video and written features with quotes from the Revolution’s technical staff and draft picks, while the club will also have significant social media coverage through a variety of means, including our Snapchat and Periscope channels (handle nerevolution).
How many draft picks do the Revolution currently hold?
As of Tuesday afternoon the Revs hold their natural selections in the first round (10th overall), second round (30th overall) and third round (51st overall). They traded their natural fourth-round selection in February 2014 as part of the deal that brought Daigo Kobayashi to New England.
Only the first and second rounds of the SuperDraft will take place on Thursday afternoon. The third and fourth rounds will be conducted via conference call at a later date.
As draft picks are tradeable, stay tuned to revolutionsoccer.net throughout the week for potential updates.
Which positions might the Revolution be targeting in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft?
We won’t know for sure until selections are made on Thursday afternoon, but Revolution GM Michael Burns has indicated that the Revs are searching for depth at virtually every field position.
The departures of Kevin Alston and Jeremy Hall leave New England short on depth at outside back, while Burns noted that the Revs have also been in search of central defensive reinforcements. They’ve also indicated a desire for a central midfielder, as well as forward depth to push the current crop.
While the Revs will address some of those areas on the international market, there will be an opportunity to pick up a potential contributor on Thursday, particularly with the 10th overall pick.
For a more in-depth assessment of where the Revolution might be able to strengthen through the SuperDraft, catch my preview with Fox Soccer’s MLS Editor Kyle McCarthy on Wednesday evening.
How has the SuperDraft evolved throughout the years? Is it still relevant?
There was a time when the MLS SuperDraft was the primary means of acquiring players, and it really wasn’t all that long ago. The core of that New England Revolution side that won three straight Eastern Conference Championships from 2005 to 2007 was built through the draft – Taylor Twellman, Clint Dempsey, Pat Noonan, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz and Michael Parkhurst were ALL draftees.
But the growth of the MLS Academy system – and, to a lesser extent, more sophisticated international scouting practices – has no question altered the landscape of the SuperDraft. With more young players bypassing the draft via Homegrown deals, the breadth of players available is naturally diluted.
It would be naïve, however, to overlook the SuperDraft entirely. While MLS clubs can no longer build an entire squad through the draft system, they can and will find contributors on Thursday afternoon.
Last year’s SuperDraft class included Cyle Larin, who shattered the MLS rookie record with 17 goals for Orlando City SC. It also included four players called into the U.S. National Team’s ongoing January camp (Khiry Shelton, Fatai Alashe, Matt Polster and Tim Parker).
The evidence is there; players can be found in the SuperDraft, particularly in the first round. The question now becomes who will the Revs find with the 10th overall pick? Or will they even have the 10th overall pick by the time Thursday afternoon rolls around?
Stay tuned to revolutionsoccer.net to find out.
