[Smooth]

Looks like the Whitecaps will be getting the first pick for the 2011 draft when they enter the MLS.

Whitecaps win pivotal MLS coin toss over Portland

By Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
July 28, 2010

VANCOUVER - The Portland Timbers beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 last week to grab the Cascadia Cup – a trophy that symbolizes on-field soccer superiority in the Pacific Northwest.

But the Caps are smiling today after beating the Timbers in a coin toss Wednesday at the Major League Soccer all-star game in Houston, Texas.

That win gives Vancouver the option of taking the first pick in either the MLS expansion draft of unprotected players in November or the SuperDraft of eligible college and youth players in January. They have to make that choice by Aug. 11.

Vancouver and Portland both join MLS next year.

“We’re not going to tip our hand now,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. “We’ll look at which players will be available in each of the categories and take it from there.”

The league has a priority list of eight player-acquisition mechanisms and once Vancouver declares its first priority, the two expansion sides will alternate choices through the list.

First pick in the expansion draft and first pick in the SuperDraft are the two top priorities.

Other mechanisms include the signing of USSF D-2 players, an “allocation ranking” that gives priority on signing returning MLS or U.S. international players and a designated player ranking that decides which of two or more clubs can negotiate with a designated player whose full salary won’t count against a team’s salary cap.

SIDE KICKS: The Caps announced Wednesday they have signed 19-year-old striker Ridge Mobulu from FC Lausanne-Sport of the Switzerland second division. Mobulu will join the club’s residency program under a Premier Development League contract but will be on loan to the senior team until October.

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Whitecaps+pivotal+coin+toss+over+Portland/3334516/story.html