Expectations are a funny thing. Not fun. Funny, as in peculiar.
If someone told you at the end of the disastrous end to last season that the Calgary Flames would be 5-5-1 through the first month of the coming season, with wins and loser points versus the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, you probably would have been thrilled knowing they were successfully competing against some of the league’s top teams.
But because of the offseason moves made to improve the culture, expectations have been much higher. A new coach. A big free-agent signing. A blockbuster trade followed by long-term deals for the newcomers.