It is the will after that tough start for me, on top of this team not actually getting better on paper (and likely worse - if not at the moment, then with the eventual Andersson trade).
I think it was easy to play hard all season last year given the schedule. I think it snowballed for them, and was at least part of the reason why they defied expectations. This season was a tough start. They have looked much better lately (especially in the last 3), but will there will be there this season?
I think it will get snuffed-out. Conroy essentially has to trade Andersson - you can't allow him to walk for free. Kadri is creating ripples out there (well, he isn't, but the media is now). There is a solid chance that they simply either meet expectations, or even fail to meet whatever expectations were set for them (seen a lot of 80-odd point guesses prior to the season starting by some gambling sites that was posted here, IIRC).
Either way, whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting season, especially if your name is Craig Conroy. That's a lot of decisions he needs to make again this season.
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