Season preview: Whitecaps hope roster overhaul will return team to playoffs for 2nd straight season

When asked how the Vancouver Whitecaps need to improve this year, team president Bob Lenarduzzi keeps it simple.

"We need to score a few more goals and we need to concede less."

It won't be easy improving a 2017 season that saw the team finish third in the conference, lose back-to-back matches just once, and win its first MLS playoff game a year after missing the post-season entirely.

Butthe team also disappointedin theCanadian Championship and Cascadia Cup. Andafizzling 2-0 playoff loss to rival Seattle soured the season'sendand ushered in a roster overhaul.

"We feel again like we've addressed some positions we needed to," said Lenarduzzi of the team's off-season.

"We achieved some things [last year], in particular the playoff win, we hadn't done before, so that's a good place to build from."

The club iscounting on thatseries of new recruitsto supersede the departure of several of last year's big names, and return the team to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

When the season opens at homeSunday against Montreal, the team will have at least seven new starters in the lineup compared to opening day last season.

"We feel like we've made some changes that will make us a better team," Lenarduzzi said.

Off-season overhaul

Longtime Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted, midfielder Matia Labaanddefenders Jordan Harvey and Tim Parker were among those to leave a roster that also lost leading scorer FredyMontero.

Also gone are defendersCole Seiler and Sheanon Williams; midfielders Christian Bolanos, Nosa Igiebor, Matias Laba, Ben McKendry, Mauro Rosales, Tony Tchani; and striker Kyle Greig.

Coming in are 11 new players, most notably MLSveteran forward Kei Kamara and Venezuelan striker Anthony Blondell, signed to help a squad that finished middle-of-the-table in goals scored.

"The squad has got stronger," said manager Carl Robinson. "I think we have different characteristics of players."

The team also added Brazilian midfielder Felipe, English Premier League veteranJordon Mutch,utilityman Efrain Juarez and former Canadian national team defender Doneil Henry.

"It gives us a little flexibility. The competition is very strong in all areas of the field," Robinson said.

Fan expectations

Fans are cautiously optimisticthat the new season will bring with it a moreexciting brand of soccer.

"We weren't playing engrossing eye-catching football," Vancouver Southsiders president Aaryn Viviansaidof last season.

Vivian isworried about a backlinethat's led by captain Kendall Waston, but that has also seen three key members Ousted, Harvey and Parker departlast year.

"Waston is going to be a huge contributor this season, but he's only one guy. There's only so much we can expect."

Fans have had to endure seeing arguably the team's four closest rivals win the MLSCup the last four seasons.

Vivian ishopeful the new faces will bring with thema new attitude.

"They've definitely added this leadership on the pitch we've been lacking for a while," she said

"You want to see electric goals, you want to see those highlight reel scoring chances and with these additions I think we will."

The team expects to both sell-outSunday's gameand set a club record for a home openerwith more than 27,000 fans anticipated to fill thelower bowl of BCPlace.

The Whitecaps kick-off their 2018 seasonagainst Montreal at BC Place just after 3 p.m. PT.

With files from the Canadian Press