It`s easy to imagine the emotion for 22-year-old Matt Coronato, sitting in his childhood home, signing a significant 7-year, $45.5 million contract extension with the Calgary Flames alongside his parents and siblings.
What’s less uncertain is who footed the bill for the celebratory dinner that evening.
“Yeah, I think maybe I should,” Coronato chuckled, just hours after finalizing the deal with an average annual value of $6.5 million.
Coronato anticipates picking up plenty of dinner tabs in the future, expressing gratitude to the many people who helped him progress from a first-round draft pick to a certified foundational player for the franchise.
His path took four years and included a few temporary assignments to the AHL. However, those minor league stints came to a definitive end about a month into the current season, his second with the main team.
Just one week after being called up from the Wranglers around Halloween, Coronato had a memorable night in Montreal that significantly altered his trajectory.
A prolific scorer in the USHL and a standout player at Harvard, Coronato’s world-class shot hadn`t yet translated into a consistent offensive threat in the NHL. That night, he scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes.
Then, a mere seven seconds into overtime, he netted the winner, utilizing the precise shot that Flames fans had long been eager to see.
Many viewed that moment as his true arrival – a clear indication that his days in the minors were behind him and that he was firmly on track to become the scoring force the Calgary Flames will heavily rely on for many years to come.
“When I look back, it’s hard to pick one moment that was a turning point, because I really feel like over the course of the whole year I learned a lot,” said Coronato, who went on to score 24 goals this season.
“But for sure, that game in Montreal gave me a little confidence and made me feel pretty good.”
He particularly credited the influence of veteran teammates Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman after his recall. “Playing with Backs (Mikael Backlund) and Colesy (Blake Coleman) after I got called up, and how level-headed they approached the game, maybe helped the most.”
“They played a huge role. The two of them I can’t thank enough for how much I learned this year.”
Indeed, Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman can likely also expect a few dinners courtesy of `ol Matty`s newfound wealth.
After a 2023-24 rookie season where Coronato spent half his time in the AHL focusing on developing his defensive game, winning board battles, and improving his skating, playing alongside these two veterans helped him become so dependable that he was often on the ice late in games to protect a lead.
Beyond his defensive improvements, his offensive production flourished, resulting in 24 goals and 47 points in 77 games, ranking him third in team scoring. He also led all Flames forwards with a +6 plus-minus rating, showcasing his effectiveness at both ends of the rink.
This combination of defensive reliability and high offensive potential made him an easy choice for the Flames to secure long-term as a critical piece in their rebuilding efforts.
“I want to be a guy that helps this team win for a long time,” Coronato stated.
“I love what the team is doing. I love all my teammates and the staff too, and I think the future is bright in Calgary, and I’m excited to see what they keep doing.”
General Manager Craig Conroy revealed that the groundwork for the contract was laid during a late-season road trip to New York, where Coronato notably scored important goals in all three games played there, with family and friends watching.
Tristan Blackwood