Per the team, the Calgary Flames have signed their top forward prospect Matthew Coronato to his entry-level contract. Terms of the deal are yet to be disclosed.
MATTHEW SCORE-ONATO!
The #Flames have signed forward Matthew Coronato to a three-year entry-level deal: https://t.co/Lhfd8nhjaC pic.twitter.com/Pj6VhPpsuM
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 26, 2023
Coronato, 20, was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, following an 85-point season (in 51 games) with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Since the draft, Coronato has played two seasons with Harvard University Crimson in the NCAA, scoring 72 points in 67 games between the two seasons as one of Harvard’s most instrumental forwards.
Matt Coronato Signs his ELC with the Flames
Coronato posted 36 points (including 20 goals) in 33 games this recently concluded NCAA season for the Harvard Crimson, which ranked third on the team. Despite the disaster his final collegiate game became (an eight to one loss to Ohio State), Coronato’s successes at the level cannot be understated, between his above point-per-game pace in his career over two years and the electric duo formed with his long-time teammate in Sean Farrell alongside an elite Harvard side for two seasons.
Coronato is an electric shooter who possesses an incredibly high offensive work rate; his off-puck movement and ability to effectively work to open space created by himself or his linemates in the offensive zone combined with his excellent shooting technique allows him to finish at a high, efficient rate. In terms of play with the puck, Coronato is a strong puck handler who can place significant strain upon defenders on the rush, with the ability to change shooting angles with speed up the ice while creating excellent torque on his shot around or through defenders.
What’s Next for Coronato and the Flames?
For the Flames, this signing is especially exciting, considering the elite status of Coronato within not just the Flames’ system but within the league. For reference, NHL.com ranked Coronato as the top prospect in the Flames prospect pool in a pre-season ranking, while The Hockey Writers in a January ranking noted him as the 24th-best prospect in the entirety of the league.
Coronato will likely report to the team directly, marking the beginning of what appears as an exciting professional career for the 20-year-old native of Huntington, New York.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
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