It can be tempting to look for the one moment that clicked and a young player figures it out and becomes a productive NHLer.
That’s not really how it works, though. Not in most cases. There’s a journey that often has ups and downs before things start to click.
It sure seems like things have started to fall into place for Matt Coronato.
Since returning from a week-long AHL stint with the Calgary Wranglers, Coronato has been one of the Flames’ most impactful forwards. Heading into Tuesday’s late date against the Canucks in Vancouver, he had scored three goals and added two assists in a six-game span.
The right winger seems to have clicked on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, two guys who are often relied upon to go up against opponents’ top players and are on the ice in high-pressure situations.
So, was there a moment where everything clicked? Not really.
“I think it’s more about a younger guy understanding he can do the same things (in the NHL) that he did in university and he did in the American League when he’s moving his feet and playing the right way,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said. “I think that’s just a little bit of confidence in his own ability and how he has to play the game.”
It does seem as if Coronato is in the NHL for good now, or at the very least that he’s going to get a good, long run of games this season.
Last year, he had a great training camp and earned a spot in the lineup on opening night. After 10 games, though, he was re-assigned to the Wranglers. There were a few NHL games here and there, but he didn’t re-emerge full-time with the Flames until early March.
He ended the season with nine points in 35 games. Already this year, he has seven points in only 11 games.
The numbers speak to his progression, but they don’t tell the full story. You don’t get to play with Backlund and Coleman just because you can put up points.
“He’s a very good complement, he’s such a good offensive player, but he’s learned to be more and more responsible,” Backlund explained. “He’s good in the O-zone, but shifty and can help set us up and he’s a really good finisher, so when we get him the puck we know he can score.
“It’s not easy coming in your first season, it was good for him to go down and play so well in the American League and come up at the end of the season, too, and get a few more games. I thought he had a different mentality going into the season then he had last year, both early and at the end of the season, I just feel like that swagger, it’s been different. Skating better and been better with the puck.”
On Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings, some of that quiet work paid off in a big way. Coronato was credited with an assist on Kevin Rooney’s empty-net goal that sealed the deal for the Flames, but his work on the forecheck also helped knock the puck loose for Backlund’s opener.
It didn’t show up on the scoresheet, but it was a key moment in the game.
And the fact that he was on the ice in the final minute when the Kings had pulled their goalie and were desperately trying to tie the game says a lot, too.
Remember, he’s still the youngest player on the Flames roster and turns 22 on Thursday. Coronato should very much be looked at as a work in progress, but it sure looks like he’s going to be sticking around in the NHL for good.
With the Flames announcing that Anthony Mantha requires surgery for a torn ACL and is out for the season, they’re going to need Coronato.
And he’s earning every bit of that opportunity.
“Me and Backs get thrown in some pretty high-pressure situations and he’s done really well, defensively, as well, and been able to step into that spot without a problem,” Coleman said. “His confidence has grown, he’s creating space for himself on the ice, puck-control, his ability to kind of feel pressure and cut back.
“He’s been easy to play with, he works hard, he gets up in the forecheck and he kind of plays a well-rounded game in that sense, he can check hard but he has the ability to make plays. Obviously his shot is not much of a secret, but it’s good on him.
“Confidence goes a long way and he seems to have a lot of it right now and we’ve enjoyed getting to play alongside of him.”