[ah123]

Didn't see this posted here; a bit of a conspiracy theory, but it makes sense in a way

The other day I wrote about the 12 things that -- if they happen, would result in the Flames drafting Connor McDavid next June. The Setoguchi signing further supports my third point in that story and that was that all of Calgary's best prospects end up playing this season in the AHL (or OHL).

Although this will never be stated publicly, you can't help but wonder if the Setoguchi signing is part of a bigger, master plan to finish in the bottom two this year and have a shot at one of the two much-ballyhooed and potentially franchise-shaping generational players eligible for next year's draft in McDavid or American Jack Eichel.

Perhaps the Setoguchi signing -- a no-risk pick-up that has only upside and yada, yada, yada as stated publicly by the Flames, is also being viewed internally, behind closed doors, as more of a 'may work but we're fine if it does not' move than a 'win now' move. I won't characterize it as a 'lose now' move as that's not the culture being cultivated here but not-winning may ultimately be the end result, no matter how hard you're trying, if you end up icing a team that just doesn't have the talent.

http://flamesfrom80feet.blogspot.ca/...dwindling.html