Timbers Sign Maxime Crepeau

After a quiet December, the Timbers’ offseason has exploded into life during this first week in January. A statement has been made to MLS: watch out.

Tom Bogert of The Athletic reported that the Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign former LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. He will instantly become the club’s starting goalkeeper.

In Part 3 of my offseason to-do list, I looked at all of the MLS free agents that the Timbers should be targeting. Number one on that list was Maxime Crepeau.

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In order for this deal to happen, LAFC had to bring in a new starting keeper. They did exactly that by signing Hugo Lloris. That made Crepeau expendable, and the Timbers saw the opportunity that arose. Despite making two goalkeeper signings already (I’ll talk about the goalkeeper situation later in this article) the Timbers looked at the xGa-goals conceded stat and said we need an elite keeper in net. Crepeau matches that. The only concern I had about him was his recovery from the broken leg he suffered in the 2022 MLS Cup final, but his performances last season completely erased any doubt. This is a massive move from Ned Grabavoy. Phil Neville deserves credit too, because his stint last summer with the Canadian Men’s National Team has directly resulted in three new Canadian arrivals. Crepeau, James Pantemis, and Kamal Miller are set to become foundational pieces for Neville’s reign. 

This is also a move that will raise the heat in the Vancouver rivalry. Crepeau started 61 games for the Whitecaps between 2018 and 2021, and now will be between the sticks for their hated rivals. Poetic.

Unfortunately, MLS teams play games during international windows. The likes of Miller, Crepeau, McGraw, and maybe Pantemis will be absent for some league fixtures. So what does the goalkeeper situation look like? Here are the current keepers rostered by the Timbers:

Maxime Crepeau

James Pantemis

Trey Muse

Hunter Sulte

Ryan Bilichuk

Aljaz Ivacic

Crepeau should instantly slot into the starting role, with Pantemis as his chief backup. Sulte and Bilichuk will probably continue to be mainstays with T2. Ivacic is actively being shopped around the league. That leaves Trey Muse as the odd man out. I doubt that the team will keep him with T2, and he’s going to need game time. There is a scenario where both Pantemis and Crepeau would be absent on international duty, and Muse would probably start for the first team in those cases. If I was in Ned Grabavoy’s shoes, I would be looking for a loan move for Muse. A loan back to USL would be an excellent way for him to get the playing time he needs. Unless there’s a team sniffing around Hunter Sulte, and the Muse signing is anticipatory of a Sulte exit. You can never be too unprepared, and after last season’s injury crisis and massive defensive underperformance Grabavoy is making absolutely sure that the Timbers are set between the sticks. Crepeau is the best goalkeeper the club has had since Adam Kwarasey. Two straight seasons without a playoff appearance was unacceptable for both fans and management. After a slow start to the offseason, the Timbers’ front office is beginning to cook. And they’re not done yet.

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