[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Roster decisions are not locked in on October 5, dude. That's the point. Just because we ran out of pre-season games does not mean that the Treliving and Hartley aren't still evaluating. They still want to see if Setoguchi can do in the future what he used to in the past. He's going to get more time so they can answer that question. Setoguchi isn't in the same place as guys like Jooris and Baertschi are. Those two can still grow and improve in Adirondack while the team continues to evaluate. But Setoguchi is a one-and-done scenario. He goes on waivers and he's done with the club. All his making the opening day roster means is that they aren't willing to give up on him on the basis of an insignificant number of pre-season games.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

There is nothing he can prove in Adirondack. The Flames signed him with the hope that he can provide a little offence for the NHL team. He has to be on the NHL team to do this. The simple truth is, his history in the NHL is what earned him an extended look. But the play of guys like Jooris also leaves his footing insecure. I'm not going to worry about whether or not Setoguchi should be in the lineup until around game 10. But he has to produce.

He goes on waivers and he's done with the club? Why, because some other team picks him up? Not likely?

And he has nothing to prove in the AHL? How about proving he can still score? When people want to justify a demotion, they always talk about a guy going to the AHL and "re-finding his confidence". Well, that's exactly where he should be doing it. IMO, if Setoguchi was going to re-find the form he hasn't shown in years(!) he would have come. into camp in great shape, hungry, and would have blown the kids out of the water. But he did no such thing. He came in and looked like the has-been he's played like for years.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
Baertschi: "I'm in-between being sad and just really confused.” Believes he did everything asked him since last season. #Flames

And here's the problem: a young guy who has promise and is a real asset to the organization does everything the organization asks of him, out performs Setoguchi, and yet gets sent down without even the chance to prove himself in the last preseason game; a chance Setoguchi got.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is a legitimate concern. The team can't just keep a spot open for him because of his emotional fragility, but at the same time, this looks like it could be his undoing. I sure hope he works his way through this, and becomes the player that he has the skills to be.

I feel bad for Baertschi. But not because I think he is being slighted or shortchanged. It's because he doesn't seem to understand how good he could be if he accepted adversity as a challenge instead of defeat.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But in the end, that is entirely on Baertschi. The team can't set double standards for certain players and prospects based on whether or not their feelings are hurt.

That's all BS, IMO.

Baertschi took his adversity as a challenge: He spent the end of last season in the AHL, and, in response, came into camp in great shape and having done everything the organization asked of him. The Organization's response is to send him right back down while keeping at least one other guy who he out performed. And, as I said, without even giving him the last chance to perform that Setoguchi got. When you do everything asked of you, yet get passed over for those less deserving, you have every right to feel sad and confused. It's the natural, understandable, and expected result.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Setoguchi has been an every day NHLer for the past five full years—since back before Baertschi was even drafted—and has compiled a resume that includes over 400 NHL games. Are you seriously suggesting that Beartschi should feel slighted for his AHL assignment when a player with +350 games and +100 goals to his credit is still with the team? Come on.

When that NHL-er has done nothing in years to show he belonged in the NHL, and did nothing in camp to show that will change. Yeah, Baertschi has a right to be upset when he gets passed over for him.

Will the team look different three months from now? Maybe. But that doesn't mean players and fans shouldn't be upset about management's current decisions failing to adhere to the promises they made