2014 Record: 15-8-11, 3rd in the Western Conference

Playoffs: Lost to Los Angeles Galaxy 5-0 aggregrate in the Conference Semi-Finals

Additions: D Jamison Olave, D Boyd Okwuonu, D Phanuel Kavita, D Demar Phillips, D Aaron Maund, D Elias Vasquez, M Sebastian Saucedo, M Wellington "Pecka" Paeckart

Defender Jamison Olave is coming back to the Western Conference after two years away from Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake was also able to re-sign Aaron Maund after originally declining his contract at the beginning of December.

The last few years, Salt Lake has been in the upper tier of the Western Conference. They could be consistently found at the top of the standings year in and year out. Even with a new coach last season and a six game unbeaten streak to start the season, they were able to remain one of the best teams until they ran into Los Angeles in the playoffs.

The question that needs to be asked is if they can remain in the top three with the additions of Sporting KC and the Houston Dynamo. It will not be a walk in the park with an even stronger Western Conference than in 2014.

Departures: D Rich Balchan, M Cole Grossman, D Nat Borchers, D Chris Wingert, D Carlos Salcedo, M Ned Grabavoy, M Sebastian Velasquez, F Robbie Findley, F Benji Lopez

Salt Lake got hit hard this season in the departures department. They lost veteran center back Nats Borchers whom they traded to fellow Western Conference rival, the Portland Timbers. The also lost Chris Wingert and Ned Grabavoy to expansion side New York City FC during the expansion draft. Those are three names that have been a huge integral part of the Salt Lake for as long as this writer can remember. Will they be able to live without them?

Will trading away Borchers to a rival come back and haunt them in the end? Will they be able to look past the 5-0 thumping they received the last time they took the field?

Normally Salt Lake likes to play a 4-1-2-1-2, but Joao Plata will be out a few months to recover from a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot that occurred during training. Who takes that spot? Or do they move into more of a traditional 4-4-2 or use a 4-3-3 which the team tinkered with early in preseason camp? Regardless of what formation they use, head coach Jeff Cassar will do what is best for the team in the end, One of two things we can be assured of, Nick Rimando will be the goal keeper, Olave will be a center back, Kyle Beckerman will patrol the mid field and Álvaro Saborío will be driving defenses crazy.

Predictions:

Even though the West will be even tougher than years past, Salt Lake will be in the top three at season's end.