Olsen and Ashton talk Re-Entry Draft strategy

On Wednesday, December 8, grizzled MLS veteran Ben Olsen will participate in a new method of player selection, the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. A byproduct of the League's restructured Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Re-Entry process will give MLS veterans newfound freedom of movement within the League.

Olsen, who spent 12 years playing for the Black-and-Red and took the club's helm as Interim Head Coach in 2010, admits that the Re-Entry Draft is a relative unknown. "I think this is a good step forward to give the players a bit more freedom - in particular guys that have been around for a while that have built this league, but [the Re-Entry Draft] is something new and we will have to see how it unfolds," said Olsen.

United's Head Coach continues, "You look at guys like Frankie [Hejduk], Jimmy Conrad, and Josh Wolff, guys that have been around this League to help it to grow, now they have a bit more freedom to continue their careers without restriction."

STAGE 1

Each club in Major League Soccer may either select a player from the eligible players list, or pass. Once a team has passed, it may no longer participate in that stage of the Re-Entry process. Each round will continue until all 18 clubs have either selected or passed on all possible players.

United has the first pick on Wednesday, preserving the order of the traditional Waiver Draft, with the worst team from 2010 holding the top selection. Expansion sides Vancouver and Portland select 17th and 18th in the order, respectively. This process repeats until all players have been considered.

DRAFT STRATEGY

Olsen está listo para asumir el reto con D.C. United.
D.C. United

When asked about the first pick in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft, Olsen remains coy about his options. "We'll be picking. There is a guy or two that we have our eye on, and we think this thing can help us. We think the Re-Entry Draft can help us a lot, but we also have to be smart. We need guys that can continue our progress [in the offseason] and add a foundation for next year."

STAGE 2

Olsen's words of caution may prove wise considering next week's second stage of the Re-Entry process on December 15. In Stage 2, clubs may select from players that are under contract and those not under contract. The negotiations also differ, with United free to pursue a lower salary figure than a player's current earnings. Conversely, players selected in the Stage 1 are locked in at their current rates at the very minimum. United Technical Director Chad Ashton breaks this process down.

"The Re-Entry Draft allows us to look at a list of players that are not being offered a contract by their current team. The first Re-Entry phase will allow you to claim any of those players on that list at the [salary] number that they are listed at. Once you go through the entire first Re-Entry Draft, the guys who have not been claimed from that list then will be available for Stage 2," says Ashton.

STAGE 2 STRATEGY

He continues, "There will be a second Re-Entry Draft [Stage 2] where you can take a guy and not claim him at the [salary] number he is listed at. You can negotiate with a player during the second phase to bring a guy down from his current [salary] number. From there, the team that the player is currently with also has the option to negotiate and re-sign the player. For us, we have the first pick in this Re-Entry Draft, and we can target a player on that list and potentially to go after this player we are going to sign him at the number he is listed at. During the second Re-Entry Draft, you can renegotiate that number, so we will probably pick up a guy and try to get a lower [salary] number if we go that route. Ultimately the League has final say when you are renegotiating with players on what is a fair price, what is actually doable, so value is very important."

WHAT UNITED FANS CAN EXPECT

So what's the bottom line for United fans? While talent and experience are obviously important heading into the first stage of Wednesday's Re-Entry Draft, financial value and roster restrictions will play just as big of a role in the selection process. General Manager Dave Kasper, along with Olsen and Ashton, will have to navigate this delicate line in both phases of the Draft. Despite some of the big names that appear on the eligible players list, salary cap constraints and the need to create a balanced roster will be on the minds of all three individuals.

What is certain according to Ashton, is that the Re-Entry process presents a unique opportunity for veteran players within MLS. "There are only a handful of guys available, it's part of giving these guys that have played in the League for a certain amount time market value for their abilities," said Ashton.

"In the past, you had players that were maybe getting a little bit older not receive this type of opportunity. You didn't have to offer the player their market value, you kind of had the player at the club's mercy. Now this process allows players an opportunity to essentially test the market and see what his value is within that market."