Has time come for the Flames to recall rookie forward Matt Coronato?
Since being dispatched to the AHL three weeks ago, Matt Coronato has collected five goals and 11 points in 10 games for the Calgary Wranglers.
It's a healthy turnaround after a rough beginning to his NHL career with the Flames.
The Flames received a much-needed boost by summoning Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil from the farm team, so it begs the question whether the time come to recall Coronato.
Zary is currently nursing a lower-body injury that forced him to miss Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators and has him listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Adam Ruzicka and Walker Duehr are both making little impact when they hit the ice, and have become bystanders late in games.
Therefore, the Flames must consider whether Coronato’s return could inject something needed heading into the set of games against the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche on consecutive nights.
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When Coronato was dispatched, it had become obvious he needed seasoning in the minors. The 2021 first-round draft choice, who collected one goal and one assist in his 10 NHL games this season, was shooting the puck often enough, but the pace of play was affecting him and the risk of blowing his confidence was real.
That said, the Flames as a team were at their worst at that time.
Now, even though the club is not in a playoff position, the Flames are playing better as a whole — the Nashville game was a definite step backwards but they are on a 5-2-2 run — and inserting a player who has the shot and desire to be a goal-scorer may help their tenuous playoff hopes. The success Coronato has had with the Wranglers must help his mental game.
Plus, a little more competition for ice time, and even to suit up, can’t hurt.
This week, when TSN released a list of the top 50 players and prospects under age 24, Coronato was listed 50th. (The only other Flames player on the list is Dustin Wolf, who at 22 was the top-ranked goaltender).
The vast majority of player on the list are currently on NHL rosters.
The time may be at hand for Coronato to move back to the Flames dressing room.
