This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Western Conference
FC Dallas
2016 » 17-8-9, 60 points, Supporters' Shield winners, U.S. Open Cup champions
Established figure » Mauro Diaz: The 25-year-old attacking midfielder is healing from a ruptured Achilles tendon, but is considered one of the league's best playmakers
Breakout player » Cristian Colmán: The young DP Paraguayan forward will be called upon to be the center striker FC Dallas has lacked in recent years
2017 outlook » The deepest, most well-rounded team in MLS are contenders across the board
Seattle Sounders
2016 » 15-6-13, 48 points, MLS Cup champions
Established figure » Nicolas Lodeiro: Perhaps the most-timely signing in league history, the Uruguayan attacking midfielder changed the complexion of a lost season to a run at the Cup crown
Breakout player » Cristian Roldan: The two-way midfielder is considered one of the most underrated players in MLS, but that will change in 2017
2017 outlook » Can the Sounders mesh Clint Dempsey back into the fold as soon as possible?
L.A. Galaxy
2016 » 12-6-16, 52 points, lost in Western Conference semifinals
Established figure » Jelle Van Damme: The Belgian center back is one of the best and versatile defenders in MLS
Breakout player » Sebastian Lletget: Still just 24, the midfielder will benefit from being more of a focal point with the old Galaxy era having moved on
2017 outlook » No Arena, Keane, Gerrard or Donovan. L.A. reloaded, but with younger big-money talent
Portland Timbers
2016 » 12-14-8, 44 points, finished 7th in the West
Established figure » Diego Valeri: The Argentine, now surrounded by more talent in the attacking third, remains one of the top playmakers in MLS
Breakout player » David Guzmán: Not a splashy signing like new DP Sebastian Blanco, but the Costa Rican defensive midfielder rounds out a dynamic front-6
2017 outlook » Can the Timbers find another center back to pair with Liam Ridgewell?
Sporting Kansas City
2016 » 13-13-8, 47 points, lost in first round of Western Conference playoffs
Established figure » Dom Dwyer: The relentless forward with 50 goals since 2014 needs more goal-scoring help this year
Breakout player » Gerso Fernandes: SKC's new DP will be counted upon to help Dwyer stretch opposing defenses
2017 outlook » Loaded with championship vets, SKC can be a pest if in striking range late in the year
Real Salt Lake
2016 » 12-12-10, 46 points, lost in first round of Western Conference playoffs
Established figure » Yura Movsisyan: Year 2 back in MLS will demand more of the RSL forward, who needs to be a double-digit goalscorer if RSL is to contend
Breakout player » Albert Rusnák: The Javier Morales replacement has a lot on his plate in his first year, starting with producing the way Morales did for a decade
2017 outlook » Younger, faster and more athletic, RSL must improve defensively from a year ago
Colorado Rapids
2016 » 15-6-13, 58 points, lost in Western Conference final
Established figure » Tim Howard: The 37-year-old star goalkeeper added even more stinginess to the best back line in MLS in 2016.
Breakout player » Bismark Adjei-Boateng: Rapids will need the Man City product to produce the way last year's big signing, Shkelzen Gashi, did.
2017 outlook » Colorado's strength is in the back, but who is the reliable go-to goalscorer?
Houston Dynamo
2016 » 7-14-13, 34 points, last place in the West
Established figure » DaMarcus Beasley: The veteran defender returns to Houston and should continue to serve as the voice of the locker room for a team in transition
Breakout player » Alberth Elis: The new 21-year-old Honduran striker rounds out a remade Dynamo attack this offseason
2017 outlook » The roster is stacked compared to 2016, but can the new players gel in crowded Western Conference?
Vancouver Whitecaps
2016 » 10-15-9, 39 points, finished 8th in the West
Established figure » David Ousted: One of the league's top shot-stoppers has the ability to keep the Caps in games, but will the back line improve?
Breakout player » Alphonso Davies: At 16, Davies will be asked to contribute to a Vancouver front line in need of more production
2017 outlook » Fredy Montero is a solid DP signing, but how does he mesh with Manneh, Techera and Co.?
San Jose Earthquakes
2016 » 8-12-14, 38 points, finished 9th in the West
Established figure » Chris Wondolowski: The man with 121 career goals and counting needs help for what has been an anemic San Jose attack in recent years
Breakout player » Danny Hoesen: Former FC Groningen striker had 15 goals the past three years and might be the ideal partner alongside Wondo
2017 outlook » Dom Kinnear's seat is likely warming up with a new GM in town
Minnesota United
2016 » One of two MLS expansion franchises this year
Established figure » Kevin Molino: Adrian Heath snagged his playmaker from Orlando and Molino will be the focal point of a team that did not sign a DP
Breakout player » Johan Venegas: The Costa Rican midfielder will have a larger role in Minnesota than he did in Montreal, and the Loons will need him to shine
2017 outlook » Expansion clubs struggle in Year 1. That's life in MLS.
Eastern Conference
Toronto FC
2016 » 14-9-11, 53 points, lost in MLS Cup final
Established figure » Sebastian Giovinco: The Italian star is the best player in MLS with 39 goals and 31 assists in his first two years in the league
Breakout player » Victor Vazquez: The Barcelona product was signed to be the final attacking link in a team that has Giovinco and Jozy Altidore
2017 outlook » TFC is a cut above the rest, as long as it avoids serious injury
New York City FC
2016 » 15-10-9, 54 points, lost in Eastern Conference semifinals
Established figure » David Villa: With 41 goals in his first two years in MLS, Villa has asserted himself as one of the best DP signings in recent history
Breakout player » Jack Harrison: The former No. 1 overall pick exuded flashes of his potential as a rookie with four goals and seven assists
2017 outlook » NYCFC's roster has turned over, but features more talent than before
New York Red Bulls
2016 » 16-9-9, 57 points, lost in Eastern Conference semifinals
Established figure » Sacha Kljestan: Coming off a 20-assist season, Kljestan is the new captain at Red Bulls after stunning trade of Dax McCarty to Chicago
Breakout player » Sean Davis: On a roster stacked with homegrown talent, Davis, tapped to replace McCarty, needs to produce in Year 1 as a starter
2017 outlook » More offseason turmoil as GM Ali Curtis moved on, but Red Bulls have makeup to contend again
D.C. United
2016 » 11-10-13, 46 points, lost in first round of Eastern Conference playoffs
Established figure » Bill Hamid: The oft-injured goalkeeper is the anchor of a team that has regularly relied upon his shot-stopping capabilities
Breakout player » Ian Harkes: The homegrown midfielder signing enters with lofty expectations for what he should achieve in his first year
2017 outlook » Ben Olsen's group finally fits his identity, but is there enough of a scoring punch?
Philadelphia Union
2016 » 11-14-9, 42 points, lost in first round of Eastern Conference playoffs
Established figure » Chris Pontius: The versatile attacker put behind him injury-prone years and scored 12 goals for the Union a year ago
Breakout player » Jay Simpson: One of several solid offseason signings, the English striker joins a striker corps of C.J. Sapping, Fabian Herbers and Charlie Davies
2017 outlook » Philly's roster is as solid as it's been in MLS. Can the Union make another jump?
Atlanta United
2016 » One of two MLS expansion franchises this year
Established figure » Kenwyne Jones: The Trinidad & Tobago forward arrives in Atlanta after a successful career in England as a dependable goal-scorer
Breakout player » Miguel Almirón: Atlanta dropped cash, and Almirón is the lead as one of four hyped attacking players with Jones, Hector Villalba and Josef Martinez
2017 outlook » Atlanta bucks trend, becomes first expansion team to qualify for the postseason
Montreal Impact
2016 » 11-11-12, 45 points, lost in Eastern Conference final
Established figure » Ignacio Piatti: Returns to Montreal after overtures from Argentine clubs, but the midfielder will need to produce more with Didier Drogba gone
Breakout player » Matteo Mancosu: The Italian had three goals and four assists in seven starts a year ago and enters as the primary striker for the Impact
2017 outlook » It all revolves around Piatti, who Montreal must keep healthy to contend
Chicago Fire
2016 » 7-17-10, 31 points, last place in the East
Established figure » Dax McCarty: The face of a tremendous offseason, McCarty joins a revamped Fire midfield, including former L.A. Galaxy man Juninho
Breakout player » Nemanja Nikolic: Chicago's new Hungarian DP striker must partner well with David Accam to revitalize the Fire attack
2017 outlook » If new pieces adapt and Nikolic and Accam hit it off, Chicago could be surprise team in the East
New England Revolution
2016 » 11-14-9, 42 points, finished 7th in the East
Established figure » Kei Kamara: After a tumultuous 2016, Kamara is settled in with the Revs, but can he to be the dynamic goalscorer New England needs?
Breakout player » Xavier Kouassi: The DP suffered a season-ending injury before 2016 began, so 2017 will be a trial run for the midfielder who must become a connecting force.
2017 outlook » Revs haven't changed much in recent years. Does this group have a run in it left?
Orlando City
2016 » 9-11-14, 41 points, finished 8th in the East
Established figure » Kaká: Soon-to-be 35, Kaká will have to build upon his first two years in MLS if he wants to lead Orlando to its first postseason berth
Breakout player » Jonathan Spector: One of Orlando's few offseason signings, the American defender comes to MLS needing to be the voice of the back line
2017 outlook » Former RSL coach Jason Kreis continues to makeover a roster that still needs moves to improve
Columbus Crew
2016 » 8-14-12, 36 points, finished 9th in the East
Established figure » Wil Trapp: The face of the franchise moving forward, Trapp is one of the top two-way midfielders in the league
Breakout player » Ola Kamara: The Norwegian striker will be asked to be the main threat in the Columbus attack after scoring 16 goals a year ago
2017 outlook » The Crew shored up their defense, but were there enough improvements across the board to warrant a playoff run?