Matthew Coronato: Leading the Flames in Goals Again
Matthew Coronato has been the Calgary Flames’ goal-scoring machine, but it isn’t as if anyone seems to be noticing him. He’s, more or less, a player who just keeps showing up and making things happen. Perhaps it’s the Flames’ downturn of a season, compared to last season, but no one’s really making any noise about him.
Still, Coronato is doing his job for the Flames this season. He’s not flashy, nor dramatic. But, he is steady, dependable, and sneaky dangerous.
Last Season Was Coronato’s Coming-Out Party.
The 2024-25 season was Coronato’s first full NHL season, and he didn’t just survive. He thrived. He played 77 games, scoring 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points. He also put up a solid plus/minus of a +6 rating. He chipped in on the power play too, with five goals and 17 power-play points.
The Flames leaned on him as a young scorer, and he delivered. Shot volume was solid, lines were clicking, and he helped push Calgary close to the playoffs before the final stretch fizzled.
This year, Coronato’s Still Producing, Even When the Team Struggles.
Fast-forward to the 2025-26 season. Through 55 games, he’s got 14 goals, 15 assists, 29 points, and 137 shots. His minus-22 looks ugly, but that’s as much about the team as it is him. He’s leading the Flames in goals and snapping little slumps with multi-point games—like a power-play goal and assist vs. the Ducks, an empty-netter vs. Chicago, and a couple of two-assist nights earlier in January. He floats around the lineup—Backlund, Coleman—but when Coronato’s clicking, he’s dangerous. Ten power-play points already.
Why Coronato Is Worth Watching.
Coronato’s shot is quick, accurate, and fearless. His hockey IQ shows, as does his college smarts. A Harvard University pedigree is nothing to sneeze at. He was also a first-round pick in 2021, so he knows where to be, battles for pucks, and makes smart plays in tight spaces. He’s 23, which is still young, but he’s become a polished player.
Like any young player, he has quiet stretches. But he also bounces back. In a Flames group struggling to score, having a 20-goal-calibre guy is a huge deal.
The Bottom Line for Coronato?
Coronato isn’t a highlight reel guy. But he shoots a lot, scores key goals, and once again (just like last season), he leads Calgary in goals this year. If the Flames find more offence around him, 30 goals isn’t out of reach. The youngster has a quiet confidence. You can just see him figuring out how to make things happen.
When the Calgary Flames become a better team, he should soar. He has someone to build around for sure. The Flames are lucky to have him.