clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Lovitz Departs for Nashville SC

Impact’s top assisting defender leaves after three seasons.

By Paul Vance
Canada v United States - CONCACAF Nations League
Bring your guitar - Lovitz heads south to Nashville!
Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Daniel Lovitz’s final appearance for Montreal Impact, the 1-1 tie against Atlanta United at Stade Saputo at the end of September, confirmed his place in the top ten for club MLS-appearances (Samuel Piette is scheduled to eclipse Lovitz’s total of 84, mid-season 2020).
The Pennsylvania-born left-back joined the Impact in 2017 after being released by Toronto FC, which had drafted him in 2014.

He leaves the Impact as the defender with most assists (all competitions) since joining MLS (9), one more than Hassoun Camara.

A protected player, this was not transacted through yesterday’s expansion draft. In exchange the Impact receives a 2020 international roster spot, $50,000 in targeted allocation money and the same amount in general allocation money.

“The GAM and TAM, as well as the international roster spot, will give us more flexibility for 2020,” said Impact sporting director, Olivier Renard.

A high-profile player left unprotected in the expansion draft by Montreal however, was the club’s MLS-appearance record-holder, Evan Bush.

SOCCER: AUG 17 MLS - FC Dallas at Montreal Impact
Much has been written about long-serving Evan Bush’s future, but for now he remains an IMFC player.
Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There were no takers, with each expansion club filling the area between their posts using alternative options.

Miami chose Bryan Meredith from Seattle Sounders, while Nashville selected Portland defender and former Impact man, Zarek Valentin, promptly trading him to Houston for net-minder, Joe Willis, the trade also earning Houston $75,000 in TAM, dependent on Willis’ performance.

Nashville’s other expansion draft selections were, Abu Dunladi (Minnesota United, forward), Jalil Anibaba (New England, defender), Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta, forward) and Jimmy Medranda (Sporting KC, defender).

As well as Bryan Meredith, Miami went for Ben Sweat (NYCFC, defender), Alvas Powell (FC Cincinnati, defender), Lee Nguyen (LAFC, midfielder), Luis Argudo (Columbus, midfielder).

Impact’s ten, left unprotected, were as follows: Zachary Brault-Guillard, Omar Browne, Evan Bush, Rudy Camacho, Jorge Corrales, Rod Fanni, Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Ken Krolicki, Bacary Sagna, Amar Sejdic, Maximiliano Urruti and Jeisson Vargas.

SOCCER: AUG 28 MLS - Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Montreal Impact
Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla - set to begin 2020 in Impact colours?
Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Interestingly Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, a player who did nothing to impress in 2019, was included in the club’s list of protected players, meaning it’s likely that a further loan-spell from Barcelona will ensue. Perhaps the new coach and sporting director feel this is a special talent which they can un-tap.

I suspect each man enthusiastically relishes a challenge ...


Please take part in our poll on the Impact’s unprotected list ...

Poll

If you could pick one player from IMFC’s unprotected list to leave, which would have been your choice?

This poll is closed

  • 7%
    Zachary Brault-Guillard
    (2 votes)
  • 10%
    Omar Browne
    (3 votes)
  • 10%
    Evan Bush
    (3 votes)
  • 25%
    Rudy Camacho
    (7 votes)
  • 3%
    Jorge Corrales
    (1 vote)
  • 0%
    Rod Fanni
    (0 votes)
  • 14%
    Anthony Jackson-Hamel
    (4 votes)
  • 7%
    Ken Krolicki
    (2 votes)
  • 3%
    Bacary Sagna
    (1 vote)
  • 0%
    Amar Sejdic
    (0 votes)
  • 14%
    Maximiliano Urruti
    (4 votes)
  • 3%
    Jeisson Vargas
    (1 vote)
28 votes total Vote Now


More From Mount Royal Soccer

https://soundcloud.com/kanfootballclub