Coronato scores in first AHL game, giving Flames reason for optimism

CALGARY – Now, that was the type of response the Calgary Flames were hoping they’d see from Matt Coronato.

Four minutes into his first AHL assignment, the Flames' first-rounder scored for the Calgary Wranglers on Friday afternoon, demonstrating why no one in the organization believes his demotion will last long.

After playing 12 minutes for the Flames on Wednesday and skating as the extra forward Thursday, the 20-year-old winger was sent to the minors Friday where he immediately sprang into action in a rare, weekday afternoon tilt against the San Jose Barracuda at the Saddledome. 

No, the organization hasn’t lost confidence in the former Harvard star, nor does anyone believe his game or world-class shot aren’t translatable to the highest level.

This is a 25-goal scorer waiting to happen.

It’s simply time for a reset.

As Flames coach Ryan Huska pointed out, Coronato has played 19 games so far this season, including exhibition and the young stars tourney.

To put that in perspective, the Crimson squad he starred on the last two years played its first game of the season last weekend.

A lot has been thrown at the young man quite quickly, including first power-play unit duties and top-six minutes.

The organization felt it was all getting a little much for the first-rounder, who has been scoreless since picking up his first NHL goal in Game 2.

His output was a drop-off from the four goals and three assists he posted in the pre-season that had him tied for third in the league with Connor McDavid.

“As it gets going there's a tendency to get a little bit harder, and we're here to work him through that,” said Huska, who said his conversation with Coronato was very positive. 

“Part of that is us not wanting to have him just sit and watch a bunch of games. We want him to play, so whether it's one, two or three or four games he's down with the Wranglers, the message is to go down and play in all situations and continue to work on the things we need you to work on.”

So far so good, as Coronato’s first AHL snipe was the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over San Jose that lifted the Wranglers to a 6-0-1 record. Dustin Wolf posted another shutout in net.

It’s the Wranglers’ ongoing success that has buoyed fans through the last year, giving hope a potential rebuild in Calgary can revolve around some of the thriving young pieces in play there.

The latest call up is Martin Pospisil, who was summoned to replace Coronato on the team’s charter to Seattle on Friday for Saturday’s game.

Pospisil was a fourth-round selection by the Flames in 2018 after he amassed a staggering 253 penalty minutes in 49 USHL games.

As Brad Treliving once quipped, “He could find trouble in church.”

His rough and tumble style has led to significant injuries each of the last four years, making his callup an emotional one.

“I couldn’t really believe it – it’s something I’ll never forget,” smiled the six-foot-two, 190-pound winger, who represented Slovakia at the 2019 world juniors. 

“I went through all kinds of injuries, so it was a great moment when he called and told me I will practice with the Flames. It was a long way to get to where I am right now.”

Did he ever stop believing this day would come?

“Actually, no, I was still believing even with the last injury I was out for four months,” said Pospisil, who has three goals and three assists in six AHL games this year.    

“My goal was after that I will be even better than before.

“I had a great summer and really good fitness testing and that also shows on the ice and I feel really good. It wasn’t easy – I can tell you that.

“I’m glad that I’m healthy and I can play.”

Unlike callups last season when Darryl Sutter only begrudgingly played youngsters like Matt Phillips and Jakob Pelletier sparingly, these kids are being brought up to show what they’ve got.

After skating on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman on Friday, it’s almost certain that on Saturday the 23-year-old will become the third Wrangler product to make his NHL debut in the last nine days.

Ilya Solvoyov’s first NHL chills came Oct. 26 against St. Louis, and Connor Zary’s maiden spin came Wednesday when the team’s 2020 first-rounder scored on his third shift to emerge the team’s star of the night.

Both players injected energy into the room, which is something they’re hoping Pospisil can do with a game that involves a little bit of everything. 

The challenge for all these callups is to prove they can be impactful players on a consistent basis.

That’s Coronato’s AHL assignment, which comes with no timeline.  

“This most definitely is not the last we've seen of him, I can say that for sure,” smiled Huska, whose club also announced defenceman Jordan Oesterle cleared waivers and was sent to the farm in exchange for fellow blue-liner Nick DeSimone.

“I think sometimes there's a tendency to put younger guys in positions that they're not quite ready for at times, and you've forced them into those positions.”

That’s when confidence fades and there’s the possibility their development can be damaged, prompting people to start questioning, ‘what’s wrong with this player?’

Thus, a chance for Coronato to hit the refresh button and regain the touch he rediscovered just one game in.