Within the last three weeks, the Chicago Fire has traded away a trio of players who combined for 288 appearances, 80 goals and 83 assists for the Fire.
Citing a need to meet the salary cap of approximately $1.73 million, the Fire has sent Josh Wolff to Kansas City (for a first-round pick, third overall, at this year's MLS SuperDraft), Peter Nowak to New England (for a conditional pick in the 2004 draft) and Dema Kovalenko to D.C. United (for midfielder Justin Mapp).
Forward Wolff, the latest Fire player to go, scored 32 goals and 15 assists in 84 games for Chicago since joining the Fire as a Project-40 player in 1998. Wolff played in two games for the USA at the 2002 World Cup, assisting on Brian McBride's goal against Mexico.
''This will assure us three good young, new players when we start the season — Rodrigo Faria [acquired from the MetroStars as part of Coach Bob Bradley's move], Justin Mapp and the No. 3 player in the SuperDraft,'' says Chicago general manager Peter Wilt. ''This infusion of youth will make the Fire stronger in the future and allow us to develop even more talent.''