Johnson is a bear of a man who makes his living by thrashing the opposition. But after Sunday's finale he was emotional, as were many of his teammates. Lemaire said he wished there were more games to play so he could continue to coach. He knows the first season always is the best. When it ends, things change.
Expectations become higher.
Some players, hard-working players, will be shown the door as the team looks to upgrade. Just being here no longer will be enough in 2001-2002. Now it becomes less of an affair of the heart and more of a business. It's like when a couple returns home from the honeymoon and suddenly there is pressure to rake the leaves and take out the trash. Real life awaits the Wild after a one-year dispensation.