In just a month's time, on Saturday, April 13, the Canadian Premier League will kick off its sixth season with a triple-header of matches from coast to coast. The league's eight teams will enter the 2024 campaign with in some cases very new-look squads after an enthralling off-season full of moves -- both players within the league and from abroad. As the countdown begins with the 2024 campaign just 31 days away, here are the biggest storylines from the Canadian Premier League off-season thus far:

Atlético Ottawa bring together cast of CPL stars in the nation's capital​

Carlos González' sophomore season as head coach of Atlético Ottawa undoubtedly saw a bit of a slump, as the 2022 regular season winners collected 13 fewer points, and dropped into sixth place, missing the playoffs. In response, the capital club has attracted an impressive cast of CPL stars. So far this off-season they have added 2023 CPL Best Young U-21 Canadian Player Matteo de Brienne, 2023 Golden Glove nominee Rayane Yesli, former York United attacker Kévin Dos Santos, reacquired star player Ballou Tabla, and signed three-time CPL champion Jonathan Grant. With Canadian international Kris Twardek and Villarreal CF B loanee Liberman Torres rounding out of the club's signings, Ottawa's 2024 side will look notably different from previous iterations and are intent on playing a more expansive and possession-based style.

Valour FC undergo significant turnover​

Speaking of disappointing 2023 campaigns, after back-to-back years on the playoff bubble, Valour finished in last place this past season. The Winnipeg club has had a stunning amount of turnover this off-season, with 11 new players joining the club, and 16 departures. Not all of that turnover was by design, as the club tried to keep key players Matteo de Brienne and Diego Gutiérrez to no avail. But in the end, they believe they have put together an exciting squad committed to turning the club's fortunes around. Like Ottawa, Valour focused this off-season on bringing in players with past CPL experience, including Roberto Alarcón, Tass Mourdoukoutas, Zachary Sukunda, Jordan Faria, Noah Verhoeven, Abdul Binate and Shaan Hundal. So far, they have added players who played for five different CPL opponents last season.

A homecoming for Vancouver FC​

There's no place like home, and ahead of Vancouver FC's sophomore Canadian Premier League season, several league veterans decided to make their return to the lower mainland. British Columbia-born players Ben Fisk, David Norman and Paris Gee will bring some much-needed experience to the league's youngest team in 2023. The trio combine for roughly 200 matches of CPL experience. Vancouver FC also made history this off-season, breaking their own record for the youngest signing in league history by agreeing to terms with then-15-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international Grady McDonnell in January. That mark was previously held by TJ Tahid, who has since gone on to become the youngest CPL player to both appear in a match as well as score a goal. McDonnell will be keen to break both of those records this season.

Cavalry FC complement championship core​

After winning the league by 13 points last season, Cavalry FC know that every team in the CPL will be out to prove a point against them this year. With that in mind, as well as their recent campaign in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Cavs have spent the past few months reinforcing their championship core. They've added crucial depth, especially in the midfield and in attack. Former Valour FC captain Diego Gutiérrez and Lucas Dias (on loan from Sporting Lisbon) add options and versatility in midfield, while Tobias Warschewski and Australian winger Lleyton Brooks add firepower up top.

Nine Stripes retool under new ownership group​

After a season in which York United set club records for points and wins, the club is looking to take a further step forward into championship contenders under new ownership group Game Plan Sports. The Nine Stripes have spent this off-season adding quality at just about every position, with veteran French goalkeeper Thomas Vincensini, Canadian internationals Juan Córdova and Frank Sturing and Mexican duo Orlando Botello and Oswaldo Léon in defence, Josué Martinez on loan from CF Monterrey in midfield and Liechtenstein international Dennis Salanović up top. York United did also lose some key players from last season, namely defenders Paris Gee, Tass Mourdoukoutas and captain Roger Thompson, midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and joint leading goalscorer Kévin Dos Santos. But internally the club believes they are deeper and more talented than ever before.

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