The Vancouver Whitecaps 2018 close season has had two defining events: signing Anthony Blondell from Monagas SC in late November, and sending their 2019 first round and a conditional 2020 second-round SuperDraft selection to New England Revolution for Kei Kamara. With Blondell and Kamara, Vancouver finally has both a second striker and a centre forward again, something they've been sorely lacking since the days of Camilo Sanvezzo and Kenny Miller.

Not so fast. Before opening the roof on the 2018 campaign, Vancouver had one more piece of business to complete. Tim Parker wanted out.