D.C. United season review: Perry Kitchen

United's most dependable starter is one of MLS's best at his job, but will he be around much longer?

Back in September, D.C. United had to play the Montreal Impact on the road without Perry Kitchen. In previewing that game, I discovered a fact that sums up Kitchen's importance to the cause: Since picking Kitchen in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, United entered that match 0W-4D-7L in league games that their rock-solid defensive midfielder didn't take part. Montreal won that won 2-0, by the way, meaning that United has 4 points from a possible 36 (and a goal difference of -16) in games Kitchen missed.

Those numbers obviously indicate that Kitchen is a fundamental piece of the puzzle at RFK Stadium.…