The Calgary Flames may have a problem on their hands when it comes to Matt Coronato.
The organization recently assigned Coronato, their 2021 first-round pick, to the AHL to activate Yegor Sharangovich off injured reserve. Coronato’s reassignment came as a bit of a surprise, especially after his strong showing, including a two-goal game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Unfortunately, a victim of the numbers game and eligible to be demoted without going through waivers, the Flames made the move that made sense at the time. A recent Twitter repost by Coronato’s agent might hint at some friction over the decision.
A handful of Flames fans and Coronato supporters voiced frustration, particularly after his agent and others from his agency retweeted a post criticizing the move. The tweet expressed annoyance that Calgary prioritized veteran free agents like Anthony Mantha over young talent like Coronato, noting that he had “outperformed many forwards with less ice time.” That post was reposted on the agent, John Kofi Osei-Tutu’s, timeline.
Such a ridiculous move to sign Mantha. Coronato is clearly an NHLer at this point. He can play on any line and be effective, has outperformed many of the fwds with less ice time. Also easily should be on at least pp2. Let’s hope he doesn’t get pissed off and ask out.
— FlameShame (@FlameShame12) October 25, 2024
The post read:
Such a ridiculous move to sign Mantha. Coronato is clearly an NHLer at this point. He can play on any line and be effective, has outperformed many of the fwds with less ice time. Also easily should be on at least pp2. Let’s hope he doesn’t get pissed off and ask out.
The sentiment seems to suggest that Coronato’s camp would like it to be known they don’t agree with the decision to demote their client, and they don’t seem to care too much that they are reposting a comment that takes aim at one particular teammate.
Does Coronato Agree: Are the Flames Prioritizing the Wrong Thing?
As the Flames focus on building around experienced players, young talents like Coronato risk being sidelined in favor of veterans—a strategy that can sometimes alienate developing prospects.
For Coronato, being demoted despite his performance raises questions about Calgary’s development priorities. Some might see it as a slap in the face, particularly given that Coronato is in a contract year, with his entry-level deal expiring at the end of the season. A significant portion of his contract ($850,000) this year hinges on performance bonuses, so being sent down to the AHL limits his ability to earn those bonuses.
As the Flames juggle the balance between seasoned players and high-potential prospects, have they irked a piece of the future core? There has been no comment from Coronato himself and agents don’t always speak for the player. At the same time, agents don’t often make a move like this without informing their clients they intend to do so.
