MLS Mock Expansion Draft 2011: Projected Vancouver Whitecaps Protected List

The Vancouver Whitecaps are in an unusual position for the expansion draft, and I suppose it's a good thing: They don't have enough players worth protecting. Who are the no-brainers? Eric Hassli, Camilo Sanvezzo, Alain Rochat, Davide Chiumiento, Gershon Koffie, and you're done. Jay DeMerit's probably the best of the rest, Carlyle Mitchell showed enough in a couple of games to be worth wasting a spot on, and while Jordan Harvey had a rough 2011 season since coming over from Philadelphia he's an established MLS vet so it's hard to believe he's THAT bad. That's still eight players.

I wound up using my last three spots on Long Tan, Jeb Brovsky, and Michael Boxall: decidedly second-rate prospects in their early 20s who at least showed flashes of potential. This left Vancouver's goalkeepers Jay Nolly and Joe Cannon unprotected, but I'd be astonished if the Impact picked either of them. With Bill Gaudette and Evan Bush they have two better goalkeepers on hand already for less money.

Projected Whitecaps protected list: Eric Hassli, Camilo Sanvezzo, Jay DeMerit, Alain Rochat, Michael Boxall, Jordan Harvey, Jeb Brovsky, Carlyle Mitchell, Davide Chiumiento, Long Tan, Gershon Koffie. Automatically protected: Philippe Davies, Nizar Khalfan, Michael Nanchoff, Omar Salgado, Brian Sylvestre, Russell Teibert.