On Sunday, March 26th, 2023, Matthew Coronato signed a 3-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames. Coronato, who flew to join the team on Monday, was drafted 13th overall by the Flames in the 2021 NHL Draft.
In his draft year, Coronato scored 48 goals in 51 games for the Chicago Steel in the USHL. After being drafted, he spent two seasons at Harvard University – tallying 72 points in 68 games over that span. Coronato also represented Team USA at the 2022 World Juniors, putting up seven points in five games.
Matt Coronato, a right-handed shot, has played at both center and right wing throughout his career – and he hasn’t failed to produce at either position. Given his position, handedness, and nature as a pure goal scorer, Coronato resembles the likes of Tyler Toffoli and Elias Lindholm, the latter of whom has also served as both a center and right wing during his time in Calgary. During an interview that followed Coronato’s signing, Calgary Flames Head Coach Darryl Sutter compared his play style to Andrew Mangiapane, another young winger with a knack to find the back of the net.
In past years, the Flames have been short of goal-scoring talent, especially on the right side. While players like Tyler Toffoli have recently stepped up in that regard, Coronato’s value to the Flames shouldn’t be underestimated. In addition to his similarities in play style to the players mentioned above, Coronato’s path towards the NHL closely resembles that of the greatest star in recent Calgary Flames history – Johnny Gaudreau.
Both Coronato and Gaudreau are regarded as smaller players, at 5’10” and 5’9”, respectively. However, this hasn’t hindered their ability to produce in the slightest, and they have each had very successful college careers in the NCAA.
Johnny Gaudreau won the Hobey Baker Award in 2014 as the NCAA’s best player. This year, Coronato has been nominated for the same honour.
In the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Johnny Gaudreau was drafted with the 13th pick in the fourth round. Ten years later, Coronato was drafted with the 13th pick in the first round. Safe to say there’s plenty of potential upside when it comes to the 20-year-old product of Harvard.
Coronato is the Calgary Flames’ highest draft pick since Matthew Tkachuk went 6th overall in 2016. And the last time the Flames drafted a “Matthew” who wore number 19, it went pretty well. Until 2022 free agency, that is. Like Gaudreau and Tkachuk, Coronato is a U.S.-born player – and fans can only hope that he won’t head south to play closer to home down the road, like the Flames stars that came before him. For now, Coronato seems pretty excited to get started in front of the C of Red.
Coronato will initially be wearing number 39 as he begins his NHL career with the Calgary Flames, rather than his usual number 19. Similarly, Gaudreau started out wearing number 53 before switching to his iconic number 13.
Gaudreau joined the Flames a few years after being drafted, and made his NHL debut in April of 2014 after his season ended at Boston College. Coronato’s season ended at Harvard a couple days ago, and he could potentially make his NHL debut this upcoming April.
While many NHLers choose to go pro right after being drafted – either making their NHL squad or being assigned to its minor league affiliate – both Gaudreau and Coronato chose to stay in school for a few years. Gaudreau earned a communications degree after graduating from Boston College, while Coronato has been studying psychology at Harvard.
According to General Manager Brad Treliving, the Flames are planning to take things slow, in order to ease Matt Coronato into his role in the National Hockey League. It’s easy to get caught up in comparisons between past stars and future prospects – I’ve been a victim to this very temptation – but it is equally as important to acknowledge that Coronato’s development will be a steady journey that takes time. However, one can certainly dream – and in the meantime, all Flames fans can do is support Coronato throughout the process, as the Flames gear up for a late-season push towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs.