New York Red Bulls: Who was lost, who remains after Expansion Draft
Jan 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The draft table of New York Red Bulls at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft at Philadelphia Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Red Bulls, like the other 19 MLS Clubs, submitted their list of protected and non-protected players. The names that matter going into the 2016 Expansion Draft are the unprotected ones.

The 11 New York Red Bulls players that are safe: 
  • goalkeepers Ryan Meara and Luis Robles
  • defensemen Aurelien Collin and Kemar Lawrence
  • midfielders as Dax McCarty, Sacha Kljestan, FelipeMike Grella and Daniel Royer forwards
  • forwards Bradley Wright-Phillips and Gonzalo Veron

There are six players on the homegrown group that are not eligible to be touched. They are Tyler Adams, Brandon Allen, Sean Davis, Derrick Etienne Jr., Alex Muyl and Connor Lade.

Now, to the vulnerable section as we start with goalkeeper Kyle Renish. Eight defenders are waiting to see where their future lies. Gideon Baah, Justin Bilyeu, Chris Duvall, Aaron Long, Karl Ouimette, Damien Perrinelle, Sal Zizzo and Ronald Zubar are the eight. Bradley Wright-Phillips is the lone midfielder and Anatole Abang and Omer Damari the forwards that round out the 12 unprotected.

The first casualty was a tough one. Minnesota United FC selected defender Chris Duvall with their second overall pick. The second round Red Bull in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft was a consistent presence for the three years he played in New York. The Red Bulls were thankful for his work and acknowledged it, via newyorkredbulls.com:

“With the depth of our team, we knew that we would lose a player,” Red Bull Sporting Director Ali Curtis pointed out, “Chris is a promising player, and we wish him well as he starts the next phase of his career in MInnesota.”

This one stings because Duvall came into his own this year. He met personal bests in games played with 25, starts with 20, and two assists.

But Atlanta United FC did not come the Red Bulls way as they selected Montreal Impact left back Donny Tola, Zach Loyd, who played fullback and centerback for FC Dallas, Goalkeeper Clint Irwin from Toronto FC, Mikey Ambrose, defender from Orlando City and a second keeper, Alec Kann from Sporting Kansas City.

Minnesota, after selecting Duvall, went after defenders Collen Warner of Houston Dynamo and Mohammed Saied of the Columbus Crew. They secured a goaltender from Real Salt Lake, Jeff Attinella, and closed with 23-year old Femi Hollinger-Janzen of the New England Revolution.

The Red Bulls have to be annoyed that NYCFC did not lose a single player but the Red Bulls depth will be able to absorb this loss. For the expansion franchises, defense was the name of the game.

I am a veteran sports writer who has contributed to New York City Sporting News, Double G Sports, and Latino Sports. As the Voice of the Voiceless, I serve as the instrument that educates and informs.