By RYAN TOLMICH

The NASL Spring Season will kick off on Saturday following a busy offseason that saw several of the league’s teams retool and reload their rosters.

Leading the headlines were the New York Cosmos, who brought in former Real Madrid star Raul to go with NASL-experienced players, like Walter Restrepo, and MLS veterans, like Adam Moffat.

The defending champion San Antonio Scorpions added Omar Cummings and Marvin Chavez, while Minnesota United built a strong roster of veterans around their up-and-coming stars Miguel Ibarra and Christian Ramirez.

Meanwhile, several of last season’s less threatening teams have reloaded under new management, as the Atlanta Silverbacks and Tampa Bay Rowdies enter with a whole new look.

An offseason of roster shakeups, as well as the introduction of the Jacksonville Armada, ensure a very different NASL in 2015.

Here is a closer look at SBI’s preseason NASL Power Rankings:

SBI NASL Power Rankings

1. NEW YORK COSMOS

OUTLOOK: Headlined by the offseason acquisition of Spanish legend Raul, the Cosmos have retooled a roster that was just a penalty-kick shootout from advancing to last season’s championship game. The defensive core remains largely the same while the midfield and attacking unit have been revitalized by the additions of Walter Restrepo, Adam Moffat and U.S. U-17 international Haji Wright.

2. MINNESOTA UNITED

OUTLOOK: While MLS looms, Minnesota United figure to be among the most talented sides in NASL. The attacking unit of Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra destroyed defenses last year and the additions of Johnny Steele, Ibson and Kalif Alhassan have strengthened the supporting cast around the two budding stars.

3. SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS

OUTLOOK: After claiming last season’s title, the Scorpions have made some legitimate additions in the form of veterans Omar Cummings, Nana Attakora and Marvin Chavez. Like last season, things will start at the back for the Scorpions. Julius James and Stephen DeRoux return from last season to anchor a defensive unit as strong as any in the league.

4. TAMPA BAY ROWDIES

OUTLOOK: Head coach Thomas Rongen has put together a new-look Rowdies led by midfield bulldog Marcelo Saragosa. MLS veterans Gale Agbossoumonde and Maicon Santos lead the defensive and forward units, respectively, as the Rowdies look to overcome early-season chemistry struggles with veteran leadership.

5. FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS

OUTLOOK: It’s been quite an offseason for the Strikers, whose roster little resembles that of last season’s runners-up. Leading the renaissance is Brazilian midfielder Leo Moura, who will be leaned on heavily by manager Marcelo Neveleff to be the backbone of the team.

6. FC EDMONTON

OUTLOOK: After limping through the Spring Season last time out, FC Edmonton ran through the Fall campaign en route to a third-place finish. The club will now look to replicate that form in the opening weeks behind additions Sainey Nyassi and goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel.

7. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS

OUTLOOK: The RailHawks narrowly missed out on the postseason last season, prompting the additions of veterans Futty Danso, Blake Wagner and Wes Knight. Pressure now lies on forward Ignacio “Nacho” Novo, who will be expected to lead a RailHawks attack that lost last year’s leading scorer, Zack Shilawski, to retirement.

8. INDY ELEVEN

OUTLOOK: While stadium news has dominated much of the offseason headlines, Indy Eleven’s focus will now turn to on-the-field action as the club enters its second season. The club returns much of its core, adding newcomers such as Greg Janicki, Brian Brown and Victor Pineda.

9. OTTAWA FURY FC

OUTLOOK: The Fury limped through the Fall campaign to a ninth-place finish, but added former Toronto FC players Andrew Wiedeman and Julian de Guzman in the offseason. In order to compete in their second season, Fury FC will need to score more goals than last season, when they finished eighth in scoring.

10. ATLANTA SILVERBACKS

OUTLOOK: Head coach Gary Smith has led quite the rebuild in Atlanta, bringing in a roster full of NASL veterans and promising newcomers. The scoring will fall on NASL veterans Matt Horth and Hans Denissen, while English imports Simon Mensing and Paul Black will unite on the back line.

11. JACKSONVILLE ARMADA

OUTLOOK: The Armada are set to embark on their maiden voyage, and are expecting to set plenty of attendance records in the process. Led by co-head coaches Jose Luis Villarreal and Guillermo Hoyos, the Armada have constructed a strong roster of local talent that will be looking to play a very positive and attacking style.