Toronto FC officially opened its training camp on Monday for the 2015 Major League Soccer season.

Here’s some news and notes from Day 1 of camp at the team’s Downsview training facility…

Another season of hope

It was all bright smiles and glowing words around the training ground on the first day of camp, with players and management very positive about the upcoming MLS campaign. A new beginning means renewed hope, a narrative we’ve seen and heard countless times before from this team during the previous eight seasons that didn’t produce a single playoff appearance.

But goalkeeper Joe Bendik maintains the positive energy at the start of this camp is much different than in years past, thanks in large part to the marquee additions of Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, and other off-season signings.

“The players that we’re getting are younger and I think more (geared) towards a long-term goal here. I think it’s awesome,” Bendik told reporters.

“There is (a good feeling in camp) but there’s actually some substance behind it. This year with the payers that we signed and the players that we kept I think we have a really strong shot at (the playoffs).”

Midfielder Jonathon Osorio added: “The only thing we’ve done this off-season is improve. Now we have to prove it on the field.”

Defender Steven Caldwell said he liked the direction the club was going in, but stressed the need for continuity, a sentiment echoed by general manager Tim Bezbatchenko.

Asked about the team’s main goals for 2015, the GM answered “The most important thing is we find some consistency and continuity,” and making the playoffs.

“It’s never boring around here. I think it shows this club is committed to winning,” defender Justin Morrow said of the team’s signings of Giovinco and Altidore.

So another season begins full of hope. But how will it end?

New defensive signings

Toronto FC added some muscle and experience to its back line on Monday announcing the signing of Polish international defender Damien Perquis.

The arrival of Perquis is a big addition to a Toronto FC side that was sorely lacking defensive depth, especially in the wake of Canadian Doneil Henry’s departure to West Ham United. Perquis will start alongside Steven Caldwell in the centre of defence.

“We knew this off-season we needed to add a veteran centre back to the mix,” TFC coach Greg Vanney stated. “He’s a great addition to the club and comes with leadership capabilities and a lot of experience.”

“People like to talk about the designated players. That’s the sexy thing and its high profile. But for me (players such as) Damien Perquis are just as important,” Bezbatchenko said.

Perquis, a French-born centre back, spent the bulk of his career in Ligue Un, France’s first division, before joining Spanish outfit Real Betis in 2012.

“They (TFC) gave me a project. At Betis I (wasn’t) playing and it was very difficult for me. … Now I’m here to help the club,” Perquis said.

Perquis said he consulted fellow Frenchman Vincent Nogueira (of the Philadelphia Union) and New England Revolution forward Charlie Davies (a former teammate at French side Sochaux) about coming to MLS.

“I spoke a lot with (Davies). He said to me ‘bro you must be here,’” Perquis said.

TFC also announced Monday that it acquired central defender Eriq Zavaleta from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

Zavaleta is seen as more as a depth signing, and will likely be fighting Nick Hagglund to be the first-choice defensive option coming off the bench. Zavaleta also happens to Vanney’s nephew, although he doesn’t expect special treatment from his uncle.

“He’s my coach. If anything expectations may be higher and I accept those challenges. … I think things will be more difficult for me (rather) than easier for me,” Zavaleta offered.

Gilberto on his way out

Forward Gilberto is back in his native Brazil and it sounds as though it’s a matter of when—and not if—TFC will cut ties with him.

The recent addition of Sebastian Giovinco means Toronto now has four designated players. MLS teams are only allowed three. Bezbatchenko said he doesn’t think the new collective bargaining agreement will call for the DP limit to be increased, meaning Gilberto is the odd man out.

MLS clubs must be roster compliant by March 1, which means the Brazilian must be off the books by then. Look for the club to sell him off by the end of the month (sources told Sportsnet that TFC has offers for him from overseas teams). Toronto could also trade him or loan him out—it’s very unlikely they are going to pay his contract down to a non-DP level. So one way another, Gilberto will be gone.

“Unless we hear otherwise we’re planning on only having three DPs,” Bezbatchenko said. “Right now unless things were to change we’d have to be roster compliant. We’d have to move him or one of the other DPs by March 1.”

Giovinco: January or July?

News agencies in Italy reported last week that Sebastian Giovinco could join TFC before the start of the season, and not in July. Giovinco and his agent have been talking to Juventus to see if they can terminate his contract early.

Bezbatchenko is letting Giovinco and his agent handle it, and isn’t anxious to get directly involved—although he’d clearly love to have the Italian here this winter, as opposed to waiting until the summer.

“We have not spoken one word with Juventus about that. It’s something that we would entertain … but he’s a Juventus player. We haven’t spoken to them yet and I’ll guess we’ll just see,” Bezbatchenko said.

TFC considering new captain

It’s not a given that Steven Caldwell will remain as team captain. Vanney told reporters he plans to meet with the players individually over the coming weeks before making a decision over who’ll wear the captain’s armband for the 2015 season.

Aside from Caldwell, you’d have to think Michael Bradley is the leading candidate.

Caldwell admitted he’d be disappointed if the captaincy was taken away from him.

“I love being captain of this football club. I’ve captained every team I’ve played for since I was 15, so it’s something I relish and enjoy. I think I’m quite good at it. It’s a great honour to be captain of any club. I don’t treat it lightly. I love being captain of Toronto. I hope to stay on,” Caldwell stated.

Bendik: ‘Free agency worth striking over’

The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union expires on Jan. 31, and unless a new deal can be worked out, the season could lose games to either a players’ strike or a lockout by the owners.

Free agency is the big issue for the players, one that Bendik (the club’s union rep) says the players are prepared to strike over.

“It’s like we say, every other league functions with free agency. I don’t see why we don’t or why we can’t. It’s very important that we do get free agency in our contract,” Bendik stated.

Odds and ends

Luke Moore wasn’t in camp on Monday, but Bezbatchenko said the club is close to finalizing a new deal with the English striker. Moore wasn’t out of contract, so this would be a new deal… Bezbatchenko revealed the club is in talks with Dwayne De Rosario, and hinted that they could bring the Canadian back in a non-playing role… Bezbatchenko was non-committal when asked about recent reports that the club is interested in signing Sebastian Giovinco’s younger brother Giuseppe, who plays in Italy’s third division with Pisa… Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley are with the U.S. national team in Chile, and are expected to meet up with TFC later this week in Florida… Damien Perquis was going to fly back to Europe to settle some family issues. He’ll rejoin the club in Orlando.

Pre-season schedule

The team will continue to train this week in Toronto before leaving for Florida on Sunday. Toronto FC will spend one week training in Orlando before returning home.

The club will then fly back to Florida on Feb. 16, and will spend the remainder of their pre-season camp in Bradenton. While there they’ll play friendlies against USL PRO side Oklahoma City Energy FC (Feb. 18), Danish First Division club HB Koge (Feb. 21) and New York Red Bulls (Feb. 25). Additional friendly matches are expected to be added during pre-season.

Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.