With Toronto FC significantly upgrading their midfield and striker positions with proven marquee talents in recent weeks, many observers expected that the club might use the MLS SuperDraft to add some depth to their backline corps.

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It turns out that approach was exactly what the TFC brass had in mind. However, with the 15th pick in the draft, the obvious question heading in was whether or not the Reds would be able to acquire a player seasoned enough to contribute in a year of heightened expectations following a breathtaking offseason.

According to TFC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, the Toronto FC brain trust had a firm idea of who they wanted heading in, but they also were worried that their preferred 1st round selection would be unavailable when it was their turn to select a player.

Thus, a draft day trade with Philadelphia in which TFC acquired the 10th overall pick from the Union in exchange for the 15th overall selection and allocation money was made that allowed Toronto to get their man in central defender Nick Hagglund.

"We knew over the last few days who our list of players were and we also knew who some of the other teams were interested in,” Bezbatchenko told reporters after the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. “We had Nick up there as a player who even if we had the first pick of the first round, that we would be drafting him. When we thought about it and we saw who was ahead of us, we knew there was a risk of losing him. So what we did was to strategically place ourselves in a place where we could capitalize on that and get Nick."

Asked about the qualities in Hagglund that made him the right choice for Toronto, the TFC general manager highlighted his newest player's all around game and maturity as a defender.

"He’s just a physical specimen in terms of his ability to jump and with his pace," Bezbatchenko explained. "Positionally he is fantastic as well. He doesn’t make mistakes at the back and I don’t think he lost a header at the Combine. His distribution was good and his cover for other defenders was exceptional. So all around we thought he was a player who could step in for us."

"We’ve had an eye on Nick for over a month and he was at the Combine we did with Seattle over at UNLV," Bezbatchenko added. "So over the course of this combine and that combine and during his college season, he was a player that just stood out as a consistent defender in which the sky is the ceiling on him."

Not surprisingly, Haggland’s own words after being selected 10th overall seemed to confirm the positive fit with his new club, as well as reinforcing the notion that should be able to contribute to TFC in his first season as a professional.

“I think I just tried to be myself and play the game simple,” Haggland said. “I think sometimes players can go to combines and try to do a little bit too much. I tried to play simple and I knew I had the athleticism to muscle people off the ball and that my athleticism in the air and on the ground would show for itself.”

“I did interview with them,” Haggland added. “I think they were very excited with me coming in. We had a great conversation. It was a good connection right when I got through the door. I’m so excited (to play for Ryan Nelsen). He was a great centre back. I think it is one of the best things you can have – to have a coach who has played at such a high level. I’m going to absorb so much information from him.”