More Departures: Colorado Rapids Waive Scottish Veterans Danny Wilson and Sam Nicholson

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids waive defender Danny Wilson and winger Sam Nicholson, the club announced Tuesday afternoon. Both joined the club in 2018. Wilson was an imperfect but important piece to the Rapids defense in his six years at the club. Nicholson was a hardworking and exciting winger. Cole Bassett is now the only player from that 2018 season still with the club and is the longest serving Burgundy Boy.

These moves signal that a further rebuild is on the way for the Rapids in Chris Armas’ first year in charge. Wilson just turned 32-years-old while Nicholson will be 29 later this month. Both were known quantities and had their limitations in MLS. Wilson was unlikely to start over Andreas Maxsø and Moïse Bombito at center back. Nicholson is still coming back from ankle surgery that ended his season early. He had become a utility player anyways, not good enough to be a starter at any one position.

Both made around $360,000 in guarenteed compensation in 2023. Both are available to other MLS teams through the waiver order process. Should they not join another MLS team or sign elsewhere (both should have interest from Scottish clubs if they want move back home), their salaries will count against Colorado’s salary budget, just like Collen Warner last year.

Remember the Rapids buying out Shkëlzen Gashi right before the start of 2019? Wilson and Nicholson weren’t a part of the long term plan. The roster spots are better used on younger cheaper players. Potentially carrying ~$720,000 in salary if they don’t find a new home is a sunk cost that makes sense to Pádraig Smith and Rapids Math.

Colorado’s got six center backs signed to the first team, all of them likely to stay. Wilson’s departure should open an opportunity for Mike Edwards or someone to at least be on the bench more often. Nicholson’s roster spot probably goes to a young player. Look for the various younger attackers to get his minutes. It was best for everyone for them to move on.

On Danny Wilson:

Longtime readers know I am a Danny Wilson apologist. He was an excellent passer. He was good in the air in both boxes. His lack of pace and poor 1-v-1 defending made him a liability at times. When Robin Fraser put the right pieces around him, he excelled. Especially in 2021 with that back three of him, Auston Trusty, and Lalas Abubakar.

Danny had a proper redemption arc during the middle part of his tenure at the club. This after being one of the poster boy signings of the failed Anthony Hudson era. He is a stoic private individual with no known public social media presence. In that, outsiders were able to project onto him. He didn’t care about any of that. He just wanted to help the team win. Despite being criticized and misunderstood, he was a good soldier and respectful professional. Remember that stretch where he played holding midfield cause they had injuries and he did ok without complaint?

There’s an MLS team out there that would be better off with him as a third or fourth choice center half. There’s a team in the Scottish Championship or lower third of the SPL that should give him a call.

We’ll always have that 82nd minute goal in May 2021 to beat Minnesota United that birthed the Scottish Salmon meme. On another day, that goal line clearance on Pidsgiving sees Colorado force extra time and go on a playoff run. He’s not the only departing player I’d say “we’ll always have 2021” to.

On Sam Nicholson:

Nicholson wasn’t great to long stretches, but boy was he fun. His banter with teammates, media, and fans was hilarious. He usually had a smile on his face. He was an energetic player and personality with just the right amount of jokester. Like a Scottish Danny Rojas.

He had some injury issues during his first stint with the club from 2018-2020. The club got him sorted and he started taking better care of his body. When he was fit and starting on his off wing, he was exciting in transition. He’d get separation from his marker, get the ball, and all of DSGP would get excited. Nobody knew what he was going to do yet, not even him.

That said, he managed just six goals and eight assists in 83 league appearances just isn’t enough. Many of those games were in a less attacking roles. He started off the season at left back after Alex Gersbach did not work out and did ok. Just like Wilson, he faced criticism despite being the best solution to a problem that was not their fault. A good steward of the club, even after he left for two years.

We’ll always have that “I didn’t know where I was going. It looked like I was running, starting to talk to someone. I don’t know what I was doing” quote. His hair styles were fun. That banger he scored in Portland too.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

Thank you for reading Burgundy Wave. If you want to support us, join our Patreon starting at $5/month. Also, we’re always looking for new talent to contribute to the site, develop, and give opportunities to. If you’re interested in covering Colorado Soccer in any way, let us know.