KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Kansas City Wizards on Monday acquired 23-year-old forward Adam Cristman from the New England Revolution for allocation money and Kansas City's natural third-round selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. The trade was consummated within the day's three-hour trading window ahead of the deadline to submit their 11-man protected lists for Wednesday's expansion draft, in which Seattle Sounders FC will choose 10 players from the league's 14 other teams to continue stocking its roster.
It's a case of the holiday season coming early for the Wizards, who can now check one item off their offseason needs list.
"[The Revolution] came right out to us. This was a quick one. I wasn't expecting this to happen today by any means," said Kansas City technical director Peter Vermes. "We've been after [Cristman] definitely this season but even part of last season as well."
Cristman was an impact player from the start of the 2007 season after being drafted out of the University of Virginia in the fourth round in that year's MLS SuperDraft. One of three finalists for the 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year award, Cristman was in the mix for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team after scoring four goals and assisting on four others in 28 league appearances during 2007. The trade was a surprise as well for the Glen Allen, Va. native.
"It was definitely a big surprise. I had done the math in my head, and I wasn't sure where I stood on the [expansion draft] protected/unprotected line. I think that played a little part in [the trade]," Cristman said. "It's nice to know that Kansas City has been after me for awhile. It's nice to be appreciated and wanted, and I'm really looking forward to get out there and work hard for a team that wants me."
"What we really like about him is that he's an American target forward. He's a very big kid," said Vermes of the 6-foot, 180-lb. Cristman. "He's made a very good jump into MLS. He has a certain amount of ability, and he combines that with a tremendous work ethic."
Cristman compiled six goals (third-most with the Revs) and one assist in 18 appearances this season, one shortened by three months due to a turf toe-like injury called hallux rigidus -- accelerated cartilage wear and arthritis of the big toe metatarophalangeal (MTP) joint. Recent surgery seems to have been successful.
"The toe is doing very well. I've started jogging here and there, really trying not to do too much too fast," said Cristman, who feels he has 80-90 percent of the movement back already. "[There is] no pain. I feel really positive that the surgery was a success, and I'm looking forward to making a full recovery and getting back to it."
Having seen Cristman throughout his college days and, for Vermes, with the U-20 U.S. national team, the Wizards really like Cristman's off-the-ball defensive work, along with his offensive abilities.
"He's been a pretty good goal scorer so far. He's a very courageous guy -- he'll put his head on the end of anything. ... He's a young guy; we're pretty happy about this," Vermes said.
Cristman joins Abe Thompson, acquired from FC Dallas in September, and Colombian Ivan Trujillo on the Wizards' target forward depth chart. Trujillo seems like the odd man out as his playing time fell off dramatically in the last third of the season. But more acquisitions are being looked at to add to the squad's depth and improve its talent base.
"We still have quite a bit of allocation money," said Vermes. "We have a couple of other players we're looking to get. But [Cristman] fills a hole that we were looking at."
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