The most surprising trade during the 2016 MLS pre-season saw Harry Shipp, a young MLS regular, join the Montreal Impact from the Chicago Fire. The Chicago-native was shocked , like most of us, to be traded by the Fire, the only club he knew.
The Impact's aggressiveness to get Shipp can be explained by the club's need for an offensive midfielder that can be the link between the central midfielders and the offensive trio up front. After playing the full 90 minutes against the Vancouver Whitecaps and the New York Red Bulls, Shipp was subbed off in the Impact's last 3 games.