Montreal Impact head coach Rémi Garde | USA Today Images
The Offseason So Far: They made an enemy for life out of Laurent Ciman, which is maybe not how they expected that trade to go. At the same time, new head coach Rémi Garde didn't seem overly disturbed by the whole chain of events, and he's now got some cap space and two left backs to play with, so ... call it a draw?
There's a lot to look at here and be hopeful for if you're an Impact fan. Anthony Jackson-Hamel perhaps reproducing his goals-per-90 heroics from last season? Blerim Dzemaili and Ignacio Piatti clicking? Samuel Piette choking out opposing playmakers for 3000 minutes across nine months? All of those are good things, but maybe not guaranteed for various reasons. It feels in flux at Stade Saputo.
And none of that matters a fraction as much as this team's defensive overhaul. Montreal were dire defensively last season and, to be perfectly honest, weren't much better in 2016 (there's a reason they felt like Ciman was expendable, right?). If Garde is able to rebuild the backline to his liking, that should give the midfield and forwards enough stability to go forward with some verve and confidence.
So while there will be rumors about incoming attackers, my money's on the big names being added at the back.
JAN. 2 UPDATE: Rumors since trading Ciman. Some of those rumors – like the links to a trio of young Frenchmen Garde once coached – make a lot of sense. Others less so, like the report that they've landed highly rated 20-year-old Chilean winger Jeisson Vargas via (stop me if you've heard this one before) Bologna.
Vargas will help, especially if Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla forces his way out or if Piatti suddenly gets old.
A more pressing concern is the status of Dzemaili, who played at a Best XI clip (or thereabouts) over his 2000 minutes last season. It doesn't look... eh, it doesn't look great:
This offseason was supposed to be about reconstructing the defense. Instead it's looking like it might be about rebuilding the central midfield and wing depth charts as well.
JAN. 24 UPDATE: Dzemaili's gone, and in his place is Algerian midfielder Saphir Taïder, who comes from the same team (Bologna) and plays the same role (forward-pushing central midfield). Taïder doesn't have Dzemaili's cannon of a shot, but he's younger (26 the week before the season starts) and looks like a natural fit for a team that wants to get the most out of the last year or two of Ignacio Piatti.
Tabla, meanwhile, did indeed get his exit: He's going to Barcelona B, the reserve team for that Barcelona. It's a big move for him and an indication of the talent Montreal can produce out of their academy – which they're doubling and tripling down upon this winter. The Impact have locals everywhere on the roster, and are easily the most Canadian team in MLS.
Part of that Canadian-ness comes in the form of right back Michael Petrasso, a former TFC youth product who spent the last few years at QPR in England. He could end up being an important piece, as could center back Zakaria Diallo.
The most intriguing offseason addition, though, is Vargas. Sounders superfans stalked him a few years back when it seemed like he was headed to Seattle, so that's a good place to start if you want to get a feel for what the kid's upside is. The fact that he hasn't hit that upside... well, that's why they hired Garde as the head coach.
