my read on elvis, as a local who knows people who know people, is that he's finally putting the work in (both on the ice and in the room) but it's a bit too late to really change anyone's mind. evason's quote tracks with that.
at this point it just is what it is. we'll drive ourselves crazy if we keep looking for little tells here and there that things are still rocky, but even in a good effort the other night there were a couple that stood out to me.
- no one going after arvidsson early in the game after he ran into elvis
- the "fatigue" thing – i don't think that was editorializing from portzline, i think he got that from a team source and the org had to circle the wagons to keep it from blowing up
- elvis mentioning in the bench interview postgame that he had "two weeks off" (he then awkwardly corrected himself)
regardless, it's in everyone's best interest that he plays well and at least gives off the perception that he's not toxic in the room. it raises the floor for this team and best case may even create a market for him, whether that's in a trade or as a post-buyout UFA next summer.