Matt Coronato made the Calgary Flames roster out of training camp as a rookie, but it might be tougher for the sophomore to stick around straight away this season.
The 21-year-old right-winger has more competition for a top six role thanks to the addition of Anthony Mantha in free agency. Andrei Kuzmenko is still around, too. And with a healthy Jakob Pelletier and fiery Martin Pospisil in the mix, Coronato will have to have another stellar pre-season to avoid more AHL seasoning with the Calgary Wranglers.
Speaking at the annual Calgary Italian Open golf tournament at Cottonwood on Monday, the 2021 first-round pick says he’s “a lot more comfortable.”
“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,” he told reporters. “I feel good this time around.
“I’ve got a couple more weeks to gear up and get ready for it.”
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The new season is just around the corner, and the Calgary Flames lines are tough to predict. My earlier attempt suggested a top six of Jonathan Huberdeau, Yegor Sharangoavich, Anthony Mantha, Connor Zary, Nazem Kadri and Kuzmenko. Pelletier and Coronato could be battling for third-line duties with the top possession duo of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman.
The fourth line is likely some combination of Pospisil, Ryan Lomberg, Kevin Rooney, Walker Duehr, Dryden Hunt and — if he doesn’t land in the top nine — Coronato.
If that’s how it plays out, it will be interesting to see whether Flames coaches and GM Craig Conroy think it’s best for Coronato to hone his skills with the AHL Calgary Wranglers or in an energy role in the Flames’ bottom six.
Regardless of where he starts, it’s easy to imagine the Flames trading out more veterans by the NHL trade deadline. Whether that’s impending UFAs Coleman, Kuzmenko or the always coveted Kadri, another roster spot or two could land him a more prominent role down the stretch.
And considering the Flames are in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, there shouldn’t be too much pressure around making the playoffs. Coronato had nine points in 34 games with the Flames last season but was a point-per-game player with 42 points in 41 games with the Wranglers. In his NHL re-calls, he looked more settled and confident on the ice.
“I think I just need to focus on being the best version of myself,” Coronato said Monday. “Playing with confidence and trusting what I can do. That’s really all I can do.”
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