‘He’s been huge for me’: Flames rookie Matt Coronato credits veteran teammate with key assist

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During his first season in the pro hockey ranks, whether he’s been on the Calgary Flames’ roster or continuing his education with the AHL’s Wranglers, it feels like there has been one constant for Matt Coronato, one teammate who he can always lean on.

In this case, Dryden Hunt deserves credit for the assist.

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They’ve been linemates in the minors. More importantly, Hunt has been a valuable mentor to the rookie right-winger.

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“He’s been huge for me,” Coronato said. “I think we got sent down in the same week at the beginning of the year. And I think from that point on, he talked me through a lot of things.

“At the same time, I played with him for most of the time we were down there and he’s an unbelievable player. We had a lot of fun playing together. But he definitely is one of the guys that has taught me more throughout this season, just about the whole process of how professional hockey works. I’m really grateful for him and what he’s done for me.”

Sometimes, that might be a word of encouragement. For a highly-touted prospect hoping to live up to the hype that comes with being a first-round draft choice, it can feel like the end of the world to be demoted to the minors.

“But I think at the same time, it’s like, ‘Listen, you gotta go out and earn it and work hard,’ ” Coronato relayed. “I think hearing that and having him there with me, motivating me and we’re motivating each other, playing with each other, trying to help the Wranglers win but trying to play good hockey …

“Just the whole way through, being with Dryden has been really helpful.”

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Teammates have praise for Coronato

Coronato is, on this latest call-up, looking more and more comfortable at the NHL level.

During an insightful post-game scrum Saturday, speaking about the emergence of some of his up-and-coming teammates, workhorse defenceman and locker-room leader Rasmus Andersson twice singled out the youngest guy on the roster, saying the 21-year-old Coronato “has been excellent” since being recalled from the Wranglers in early March.

“Since he’s been back up, I think he’s been playing with a lot of confidence, a lot of swagger,” Andersson praised. “He’s hanging onto pucks. He’s making plays. You know, he’s going to be a really good player in this organization for a long time.”

Hunt, 29, also believes there are big things ahead for Coronato. And if he can aid that ascent, the journeyman forward — now with his sixth NHL organization — is happy to help.

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“He’s such a great kid,” Hunt said of Coronato, who has averaged just north of a point per game in the minors and was selected to represent the Wranglers at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic. “He’s just very green, right? Everything is new for him. He’s been up and down, stuff he’s never had to deal with before. And unfortunately, I’ve dealt with a lot of the up and downs.

“You know, sometimes he’s trying to read into different messages. He’s coming to me and asking, ‘What does this mean? Did I miss a play there?’ And I just don’t want him to think about that as much and just try to play to the best of his ability and not worry about the other little things that are happening around. Because he’s such a good talent. Everything is just so new to him, so he has a lot of questions. He comes to me with a lot of questions and I try to answer them to the best of my ability. But he’s a really smart kid, too. He just wants to learn as much as he can. He wants to be the best that he can be, and he wants to be in the NHL.”

Right now, they’re both in the NHL.

‘The right person’

Heading into Tuesday’s date against the Anaheim Ducks, Coronato had logged 25 appearances with the Flames this winter. That means he won’t be classed as a rookie in 2024-25.

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Hunt has totalled 225 twirls at the top level, spread across seven seasons and several cities. The versatile depth dude is signed for at least one more campaign in Calgary.

While Hunt may not get mentioned as a key piece in the Flames’ retool, his impact around the Saddledome could be felt for many, many years if Coronato reaches his potential as a top-six sharpshooter.

Case in point, Blake Coleman was gushing earlier this week about all he learned from Travis Zajac at the start of his career.

“Andrew Mangiapane still talks about Matt Frattin and Linden Vey, and those were his linemates in Stockton,” added Flames head coach Ryan Huska, providing an example from his stint as the farm-club skipper. “They had quite the impact on him in regards to helping him understand how to play the game at the professional level but also how to handle yourself off the ice and take care of yourself.

“Young guys need that. And if they have the right person showing them the way to go, then it just leads to a lot of positive things.”

Certainly, Hunt has been a positive influence for Coronato — and this could turn out to be an important assist.

“Me and Matty, we’ve kind of been on this journey together, and it’s been good to go through it with him” Hunt said. “It’s so hard to play in the NHL, let alone as a rookie. You just have to be patient, because his time will come. Everybody sees the flashes of what he brings.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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