MLS: 10 Players Who Can Win This Season's Golden Boot

Last season, Dwayne De Rosario (DC) and Chris Wondolowski (SJ) scored 16 goals apiece to share Major League Soccer's Golden Boot.

As the 2012 season prepares to kick off, we take a look at who has a chance to put up big numbers this year.  Can last year's leaders do it again?  Can a youngster step into the spotlight?  Will a new entrant to MLS make a statement?

Here are, in no particular order, the 10 players most likely to lift the award at season's end.

Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)

Fredy Montero is the most dangerous player on one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the league.  In each of his three MLS seasons, he's posted double-digit goals.  Last season, he scored 12, without ever having a solid attacking partner to relieve any of the pressure.

The arrival of Eddie Johnson could change that.  In his last MLS season, way back in 2007, Johnson scored 15 goals for the then-Kansas City Wizards.  Seattle hopes that his long, unproductive trek through Europe hasn't blunted Johnson's attacking edge.

The return of Steve Zakuani from injury and the consistent playmaking of Mauro Rosales can only add to the opportunities for Montero in front of goal.  If Johnson proves able to revive the ghost of 2007 in even a small way, Fredy Montero could put up big numbers in 2012.

Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Edson Buddle took off for Europe last season, only to find that life in the second tier of German soccer didn't suit him.  Now he's back in the warm embrace of the newly-crowned MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy.

Last time Buddle donned a Galaxy shirt, he knocked in 17 goals during the 2010 season.  There's no reason to think the veteran striker won't be able to recall that nose for goal now that he's returned to the familiar L.A. landscape.

The fact that the 2011 championship Galaxy team returns almost wholly intact won't hurt his production either.

Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City)

Teal Bunbury has big ambitions.  He's publicly stated that his target for the 2012 season is 17 goals.  Just a young guy being brash?  Not necessarily.

The 22-year-old scored nine goals last term.  But those nine goals came in around 1,000 fewer minutes than league leaders De Rosario and Wondolowski.  That's more than 11 full games when they were on the field and Bunbury was watching.

If the partnership between Bunbury and 2011 Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong can really get going, this youngster could make his pre-season prediction into reality.

Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)

We shouldn't forget that Dwayne De Rosario put in 16 goals last season despite suiting up with three different MLS teams.

However, it wasn't until DeRo arrived in DC in late June that his production really took off.  In 18 games with United, Canada's best-ever player knocked in 13 of his goals.  All that despite taking the field with one of the youngest teams in MLS.

The arrival of a newly designated player (Albanian striker Hamdi Salihi) could drain some of De Rosario's league-leading 113 shot attempts from last season.  But the added threat up front could just as easily create room for United's best player to get even more looks at the net.  That could result in him putting up a big number in 2012.

Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)

Real Salt Lake plays some of the prettiest soccer in MLS, and Alvaro Saborio generally finds his way onto the end of their most dangerous movements.

The 29-year-old Costa Rican international broke into the league with a 2010 season that saw him named Newcomer of the Year after notching 12 goals.

Last season, Saborio found himself getting away more shots but putting fewer of his chances on frame.  He scored 11 goals, but must have left thinking, "If only."

All the pieces are back in place at RSL for 2012.  Which means Saborio could well set himself a new personal best in the "goals scored" category.  Just how high above that mark he climbs will determine if he is able to outpace his free-scoring competitors.

Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)

The Crew's oft-injured Venezuelan could run away with the scoring title if he is able to consistently stay off the trainer's table.  Despite managing just 14 starts in 2011, Renteria knocked in eight goals for Columbus.

The departure of last year's leading scorer (Andres Mendoza) means that the physically dominating Renteria will be leaned upon to provide the goals this season for a heavily restructured Columbus side.  If he can take up that challenge, and his body allows it, expect big things from the big man.

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

If there's a favorite on this list, it might be Chris Wondolowski.  The Earthquakes forward is helped toward the Golden Boot because his team relies on his goalscoring more heavily than is the case with any other player mentioned here.

Plainly stated, if Wondolowski doesn't score, neither does San Jose.  In 2011, he was responsible for 40 percent of his team's goals.  That's a much higher percentage than any other player in the league.

None of this is to suggest that Wondo doesn't deserve the praise he gets.  He's only had a featured role in MLS for two seasons now.  Over that span, no one has scored more goals.

San Jose brought in a raft of forwards and midfielders during the offseason.  If the rest of the team is even slightly improved, Wondolowski could post the first 20-goal season MLS has seen since 2008.

Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo (Vancouver Whitecaps)

With the addition of Sebastien Le Toux, Vancouver's roster now boasts three of the top 15 goal scorers from last season.  The question is, how will the playing time and shots get divided up?

Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo stands to gain most by the embarrassment of riches in the Vancouver attack.  Despite Eric Hassli's strong 2011 season, the 23-year-old Brazilian Camilo is the future in Vancouver.

Le Toux comes over from a Philadelphia side where he was the lone goal threat.  But the Frenchman has never been jealous with the ball as evidenced by his 20 assists over the past two seasons.

Expect Camilo to thrive off the pairing and Hassli to be forced into a more sporadic role.

Dominic Oduro (Chicago Fire)

Dominic Oduro had a breakout season in 2011 for the Chicago Fire, tallying 12 goals by year's end.  A combination of strength, speed and inexhaustible energy, Oduro oftentimes simply wanted it more than his opposition.

With playmaking winger Patrick Nyarko (19 assists in the past two seasons) roaming one side and Marco Pappa lurking on the other, Oduro should find plenty of opportunities to get behind defenders with his speed in 2012.

After all, speed kills.  And in Oduro, speed scores as well.

Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)

Thierry Henry is not the player who suited up for Arsenal or Barcelona, but a 34-year-old Henry is still a significant cut above the majority of his competition in MLS.  Last year was his first full season in New York and it saw him tally 14 league goals.

Henry's chances to top the scoring table in 2012 will be helped if Luke Rodger's visa issues get sorted out.  If not, then New York will look to new arrival Kenny Cooper and budding star Juan Agudelo to create space for their legendary teammate to operate.

No matter who partners Henry in the attack, and no matter what opponents throw at him, expect to see his name in the mix at the top of the goalscoring chart.

Who Did I Miss?

That's my list.  Who's on yours?  Did I leave someone out?  Is someone I put in ridiculous?  Do I have the entire thing wrong?  Let me know what you think.