I think the jump in effort and determination wasn't so much to do with the trade, but rather had everything to do with the reporting of the rumor that GMTM is keen on dumping Nolan at the end of the year in favor of Luke Richardson.
One scribe called it, "The worst kept secret in the NHL."
I bet that Nolan used that, coupled with the shake-up of the trade, and sold the team on the concept that, "They're sacrificing all of us for one of the two golden boys, so let's rain on their parade, shall we boys?"