Here at FlamesNation, we’ve recently focused on the prospect pool. We finished up our top 20 ranking with a profile of the number one prospect (read it and all the other great pieces from my colleagues on the site). However, some young players still have plenty to prove this upcoming season, including Matt Coronato.

Last season, the 2021 first-round Calgary Flames draft pick bounced between the NHL with the Flames and the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, with most of his games coming at the AHL level. He scored 15 goals and registered 27 assists for 42 points in 41 games, which put him third on the team by season’s end. He was one point behind Ben Jones in second place (in 31 fewer games) and four points behind Adam Klapka — who played 24 more games and also needs to prove himself in the slowly approaching Flames training camp.

Coronato also finished a point per game with the Wranglers in the playoffs, scoring six points in six games. That total was second, and it was also behind Klapka, who had seven points in those six games.

In the NHL, though, Coronato struggled, and it was especially frustrating to watch after he was one of the best performers throughout the preseason. Naturally, he is one of many cases where the preseason is no guarantee of total NHL success, especially at such a young age. Still, plenty of encouraging signs seemed to disappear once the regular season began.

Coronato finished the season with just nine points in 34 games with the Flames. However, his 2023-24 campaign can be split into two parts.

In the first part, Coronato struggled mightily. He scored just one goal and tallied two assists in 15 games with a -8 goal differential. He seemed to lack the confidence he displayed in the preseason, using his creativity and shot threat to open up lanes for his teammates and create plays through his speed. But nothing was working, and after January, he was sent down until March, when things seemed to take a big step forward.

The ice time that Coronato received in “part two” of his season lowered tremendously from part one, moving from just over 14 minutes of average ice time to just under 11 and a half minutes. However, he was productive, scoring six points in 19 games. His defense still wasn’t as strong as many (including Coronato) would have liked it to be. Still, the most significant difference was his confidence in his play on and off the puck, especially when it came to situations in which he found ways to utilize his speed, open himself up, and use his shot in the right positions.

Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3:

Thanks to an interview with Flames.com, we also heard from Coronato about improving himself, his comfortability level heading into training camp, and his goal of making it to the NHL.

“For me, going into my second year, I feel a lot more comfortable,” Coronato said. “Having real relationships with guys and the staff and knowing the way things go in training camp. I feel good this time around, and I’ve got a couple more weeks to gear up and get ready for it.”

Coronato also talked about his experience, and knowing what to expect will help him down the line if he encounters any obstacles (which are inevitable for a still-21-year-old forward trying to pave his way to the NHL).

“It’s nice to have some experience; the more experience you have, the more comfortable you are. Last year, I really got an understanding of how training camp works; all the skates and preseason games, and I think it’s nice to know what to expect going in.”

Coronato also talked about how the year of experience in professional hockey (both in the AHL and NHL levels) has helped him understand just how quickly he needs to make decisions to be an effective player. Everyone knows the game of hockey is fast, but no matter if you’re a player coming from college hockey or a fan at the first NHL game, it can be hard to comprehend just how fast and physical the game is at the highest level. Now that Coronato has enough experience to understand what it takes, he can build off that foundation to show he deserves a roster spot.

There is still plenty of time for Coronato to improve his game and do it at the NHL level. He’s still very young, but with the current construction of the Flames roster and where the organization is at this point, there’s no reason he shouldn’t take advantage of every opportunity afforded to him in training camp to prove he belongs at the highest level. Head coach Ryan Huska and general manager Craig Conroy believe he can play to an effective standard and beyond in the NHL. Now, it’s about executing.