Where we left off last year
2024 season: 44 points, 10th in the Eastern Conference
On one hand, Hartford broke their single-season points record in 2024 and showed real signs of progress in Brendan Burke's first year on the sideline. On the other, it wasn't enough to break a streak of playoff-less seasons that dates back to the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
Between loans and sales, Burke dumped no less than five regulars during the course of the year, tweaking his roster until the right pieces slotted into place. By the fall, the restructuring had allowed 20-year-old Mamadou Dieng to emerge as a star at striker and uncovered a high-energy balance in the central midfield that involved zero opening-day starters.
The playoffs seemed like a real possibility until the final week, setting the table for Hartford to finally do the job in 2025.
