Houston Dynamo, Quakes Strike Big At Re-Entry Draft

The Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes were two of the big winners in the Second Round of the MLS Re-Entry Draft, with both teams selecting two players to help solidify their rosters.

Perhaps the most intriguing acquisition in this draft was the selection of forward Chandler Hoffman by the Dynamo. The 24 year old striker scored 14 goals for Los Angeles Galaxy II last season in USL Pro. Hoffman has always had promise of being a quality striker, going back to his days as a forward for the UCLA Bruins.

But he has struggled to find minutes on the pitch, logging just 265 minutes over the past three years with the Galaxy and the Philadelphia Union. With the Dynamo he should be given a chance to play and assist a team that scored just 39 goals last season (fourth lowest in MLS).

The Dynamo also selected midfielder Nathan Sturgis from Chivas USA with their second selection. Sturgis, who has played 9 teams in 8 years, is a possession midfielder who should provide quality minutes off of the bench and the occasional spot start. Houston’s bread and butter has always been controlling the tempo of the match through the midfield and Sturgis should help emphasize this style of play.

Much like the Dynamo, the San Jose Earthquakes were also looking to add to their roster and improve upon a squad that underachieved in 2014 (6-16-12, 30 points). The ‘Quakes added defender Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids) with their first pick, a move that should help shore up a defense that allowed 50 goals last season. Wynne, who has made 5 appearances with the US Men’s National Team, should slot in at center-back for new coach Dominic Kinnear.

With their second pick, the ‘Quakes took winger Sanna Nyassi from the Chicago Fire. Nyassi has never really lived up to the promise that he displayed as a teenager for Gambia at the U17 World Championship and has largely been a journeyman during his career. The 25 year old has scored 16 goals over the span of 6 MLS seasons with the Fire, Montreal Impact, Seattle Sounders, and Colorado Rapids.

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Other notable moves from the draft.

• The Montreal Impact took former MLS Best XI defender Bakary Soumare with the first overall pick in the draft. This was a shrew move by Impact management as it now gives the club a nice blend of youth (Karl Ouimette, Eric Miller, Maxim Tissot) and veteran experience (Soumare and Hassoun Camara) along their back four.
• F.C. Dallas added to their arsenal up front, taking Earthquakes forward Atiba Harris. Harris possesses lightning-quick speed and always seems to find space in an opponent’s defense. The Saint Kitts and Nevis international scored 4 goals in 23 appearances with San Jose last season and will likely be used off of the bench in Dallas.
• The New England Revolution grabbed forward Tristan Bowen from the Seattle Sounders. After losing Patrick Mullins in the expansion draft, the Revolution needed depth at the forward position and Bowen can provide that. The 23 year old has bounced around the league quite a bit in his young career, playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA, and the aforementioned Sounders. He has just 4 goals in 28 appearances.
• Orlando City, with the final pick in the draft, chose goalkeeper Josh Ford from the Seattle Sounders. Ford has yet to make an appearance in MLS and will likely serves as Orlando’s number three goalkeeper behind Tally Hall and Donovan Ricketts.