EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA UNITED FC
2022 RECORD: 10-14-10, 40 points (Did Not Make The Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Gonzalo Pineda
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: MID Thiago Almada (6 goals, 12 assists), MID Andrew Gutman (79% passing accuracy), and FWD Luiz Arajuo (4 goals, 6 assists)
KEY ADDITION: MID Derrick Etienne (Columbus Crew SC)
KEY DEPARTURES: FWD Josef Martinez (Inter Miami CF), MID Marcelino Moreno (Loan-Cortiba), and DEF Alan Franco (Sao Paulo)
OUTLOOK: With the departure of their leading all-time scorer (Martinez) as well as two of their biggest signings in club history (Moreno and Franco) it appears that Atlanta may be in the middle of a rebuild. Almada and Arajuo may have something to say about that; but the sides depth certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
CF MONTREAL
2022 RECORD: 20-9-5, 65 points (Second Place, Eastern Conference Semifinalist)
HEAD COACH: Hernan Losada
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: FWD Romell Quioto (15 goals), MID Victor Wanyama (30 starts), and DEF Kamal Miller (26 starts)
KEY ADDITION: DEF Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake)
KEY DEPARTURES: MID Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar), DEF Alistair Johnston (Celtic), DEF Ismael Kone (Watford), & FWD Kei Kamara (Released)
OUTLOOK: Another strange offseason for Montreal. After a superb regular season run and very nearly making the Eastern Conference Finals…Montreal management fired their head coach Wilfried Nancy and sold off their top two attackers (Mihailovic and Kamara) and top two defenders (Johnston and Kone). They still have their workhorse in Wanyama and an excellent goalscorer in Quioto. But their depth took a real hit and in a strong Eastern Conference that is not enough.
CHARLOTTE FC
2022 RECORD: 13-18-3, 42 points (Did Not Make The Playoffs)
HEAD COACH: Christian Lattanzio
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: FWD Karol Swiderski (10 goals, 6 assists), GK Kristian Kahlina (31 appearances, 98 saves)
KEY ADDITION: FWD Enzo Copetti (Racing)
KEY DEPARTURES: DEF Christian Fuchs (Retired), FWD Daniel Rios (Chivas de Guadalajara)
OUTLOOK: The expectation from Charlotte last year was that they would be at the bottom of the standings. But the side was very competitive last year, just narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Losing Rios certainly hurts, but the addition of Copetti (who scored 10 goals in the Argentina Primera last year) should help.
CHICAGO FIRE FC
2022 RECORD: 10-15-9, 39 points (Did Not Make The Playoffs)
Ezra Hendrickson
