CF Montréal Surprises with New Additions, But Choinière's Departure Leaves a Big Void

CF Montréal pulled off a smart play, snagging Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty from under the noses of rival Toronto FC. It didn’t exactly shake the ground beneath our feet, but hey, it was a savvy move. And with the team dealing with some significant losses, being clever with rebuilding is what counts. Marshall-Rutty may be inconsistent, sure, but he’s got that spark—just needs the right touch to shine. That’s where Laurent Courtois comes in, tasked with polishing this raw gem into something truly valuable.

Montréal knows they’ve gotta make some tweaks if they don’t want to crash and burn. Marshall-Rutty, paired with Caden Clark, another young talent needing a bit of TLC and direction, offers a glimmer of hope for the future. But let’s be real, potential doesn’t pay the bills. Their talent could be huge, but the future’s uncertain, and it’s all riding on how they develop under Courtois’ watchful eye.

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Now, looking at the signings of Tom Pearce and Dawid Bugaj, you’ve got two guys who are expected to slot right into the starting lineup. Finally, Montréal made a move to bring in quality wingbacks—a position that clearly needed some attention. No more experiments. The real question is, while these guys gear up to become part of the bigger picture, another key player slips through the club’s fingers: Mathieu Choinière. His departure to Grasshopper wasn’t exactly a bolt from the blue—we all saw it coming for months—but man, it still stings.

Honestly, if you take a look at the club’s recent history, it’s no shock they’re trying to reinvent the team. The exits of players like Chinonso Offor, Mason Toye, Ruan, and Ariel Lassiter show that something just wasn’t clicking. But like any good rebuild, the foundation needs to be solid. These new signings look like the beginning of an attempt to patch up what was broken. What stands out is that Montréal isn’t just swapping parts—they’re trying to shape something different, more strategic... dare I say, visionary?

Take Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, for example. He’s more than just a transfer. He’s young, unpredictable, but with the kind of potential that makes scouts’ eyes light up. And Caden Clark? Now that’s another wild card. He’s coming over from Minnesota United like a kid starting at a new school, trying to find his footing and make his mark. He’s got the skills, has shown flashes of brilliance, but he also needs that guidance that every young player needs to avoid getting lost in the shuffle. Laurent Courtois has got two rough diamonds on his hands.

But all of this only works if there’s a solid structure around these kids. Pearce and Bugaj weren’t brought in to sit on the bench—Montréal expects them to make an immediate impact. The defense needs to tighten up, and that’s where these two can make a difference. But as with any team, it’s not just about individual talent. The collective has to click.

Now, we can’t overlook the loss of Mathieu Choinière. This is the kind of blow that shakes any team’s core. He was one of the cornerstones, and seeing a player like that leave is like pulling a key piece out of an already tricky puzzle. Montréal knew this was coming—everyone did. But knowing it in advance doesn’t soften the blow. It just cranks up the pressure to find someone who can fill that void, and it seems the team is still figuring that out.

The new signings, especially promising young talents like Marshall-Rutty and Clark, hint at a forward-thinking approach, while the more experienced additions like Pearce and Bugaj show a focus on the present. But will that be enough to keep the team competitive? Or will they need more to stay in the game?