Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 27/NASL Week 21

Wandrille Lefevre in action vs. Vancouver PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER/ROGERIO BARBOSA

You’d think that, on a weekend where the Canadian national team has World Cup qualifying, that the number of minutes for Canadians in MLS and NASL would take a beating.

But the opposite was true. Even though teams lost Canadians to international duty, the fact that so many other international players were also away opened up opportunities for our domestic players who usually ride the pine. The Impact started two Canadians in its 4-3 win over Chicago — and Wandrille Lefevre got a goal. The Eddies gave more than 300 minutes to Canadian players in their 1-1 draw with Minnesota United. Toronto FC gave starts to both Jonathan Osorio and Ashtone Morgan. And Morgan made the perfect cross that led to Eriq Zavaleta’s goal in the 2-1 loss to Seattle.

Both NASL and MLS have rules in place that allow Canadians to be treated as domestic players on the rosters of Canadian teams, but as foreigners on the U.S. teams. But NASL teams are more willing to play Canadians. In terms of minutes on the pitch, eight of the top 12 players — including the two leaders, Kyle Porter and Eddie Edward — are NASL players. Remember, NASL teams have played fewer games than their MLS counterparts.

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 27 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 21 WEEKS):
1. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 1691 (21)
2. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 1650 (19)
3. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 1625 (22)
4. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1464 (18)
T5. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 1440 (21)
T5. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 1440 (16)
7. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 1437 (18)
8. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 1350 (15)
9. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 1241 (14)
10. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 1127 (21)
11. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 1080 (12)
12. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 1018 (14)
13. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 980 (11)
14. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 979 (18)
15. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 932 (13)
16. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 895 (11)
17. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 846 (13)
18. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 768 (11)
19. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 698 (10)
20. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 645 (8)
21. Wandrille Lefevre, MTL, MLS, 630 (7)
22. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 629 (12)
23. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 587 (12)
24. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 516 (10)
25. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 513 (8)
26. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 349 (8)
27. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 340 (13)
28. John Smits, FCE, NASL, 315 (4)
29. Kyle Bekker, FCD/MTL, MLS, 313 (8)
30. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 309 (11)
31. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 202 (10)
32. Patryk Misik, OTT, NASL, 166 (5)
33. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 162 (7)
34. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 156 (8)
35. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 104 (5-RETIRED)
36. Tyson Farago, FCE, NASL, 90 (1)
37. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS, 18 (2)
T38. Jordan Hamilton, TFC, MLS, 13 (2)
T38.Bruno Zebie, FCE, NASL 13 (1)

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIAN MAYBES — PLAYERS WHO COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANADA, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER NATIONS AND HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO CANADA (MLS AFTER 27 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 21 WEEKS):
1. Ethan Finlay, CLB 2327 (28)
2. Steven Vitoria, PHI 1260 (14)

TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2015 (INCLUDES BOTH SUREFIRES and MAYBES); RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:
FC Edmonton, NASL, 6398/22 GP (290.8) (+1.8)
Ottawa, NASL, 5419/21 GP (258) (-4)
Toronto FC, MLS, 3304/26 GP (127.1) (+3.1)
Atlanta, NASL, 2537/22 GP (115.3) (-2.4)
San Antonio, NASL 2221/20 GP (111.1) (-1.1)
Columbus, MLS, 2327/28 GP (83.1) (+0.2)
Montreal, MLS, 1660/23 GP (72.2) (+4.9)
Vancouver, MLS, 1786/27 GP (66.1) (NC)
FC Dallas, MLS, 1441/26 GP (55.4) (-2.2)
Orlando City, MLS, 1440/28 GP (51.4) (-1.9)
Philadelphia, MLS, 1260/28 GP (45) (+1.7)
Portland, MLS, 980/27 GP (36.3) (NC)
Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 768/25 GP (30.7) (NC)
New York Red Bulls, MLS 698/25 GP (27.9) (-2.4)