Flames Preview: Matthew Coronato Banner Card

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This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on this collectibles blog and my personal one, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.

Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in a week, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.

Key Exits: Blake Coleman (C), Victor Oloffson (LW), Étienne Morin (D), Ryan Lomberg (LW), Olli Maata (D)

Key Arrivals: Simon Nemec (D), Maxim Tsyplakov (RW), Jake Middleton (D)

Top prospects: Zayne Parekh (D, 20), Cole Reschny (C, 19), Carson Carels (D, 19), Samuel Honzek (LW, 22), Cullen Potter (C, 19), Henry Mews (D, 20), Ethan Wyttenbach (LW, 19), Matvei Gridin (RW, 20)

The Calgary Flames are one of two teams - with the Vancouver Canucks - who are at the teardown part of their rebuild, which should see them finish in the bottom two teams in the NHL.

What makes their odds look good:
Dustin Wolf is looking for a bounce-back season in nets, Nemec and Parekh will be very good on their blue line for years to come, Zach Whitecloud and Middleton makes them hard to play against right now, and there are a lot of promising forwards that should reach their prime in the next two to five years - but they're not there yet, and their ceilings have yet to be determined.

Question marks:
How long of a leash does Wolf have in net - or does it even matter if he falters since the point of this season (and the next two or three) is still to stockpile quality draft hauls? Matt Coronato led the team last season with 45 points; can someone reach 55 or 60 this year? How long does head coach Ryan Huska have to show improvement?

Outlook:
This rebuild will determine GM Craig Conroy's future employment: a successful one sees him continue with the Flames, and failure will likely mean he will not get another chance anywhere else. And you never know how it'll pan out: teams usually trade veterans for draft capital, but who you trade to and where those teams finish impacts the selection rank; then you have to make the right picks - best player, most upside, best work ethic, best fit - the team determines the criteria; and you need to develop those guys into the best versions of themselves, which requires not just a good hockey staff but also training facilities, good working environment, team culture. For now, we know the Flames will not enter their new arena as contenders next season, but we have no idea how long it will be until they come knocking at the playoff's door.

Prediction:
7th in the Pacific Division.

As mentionned previously, Coronato seems to be at the front of the pack of young Flames forwards. Here he is on card #BYHC-MC from Upper Deck's 2024-25 SP Game-Used collection and Banner Year and Heritage Classic sub-sets, wearing the Flame's uniform from that game:

As stated on the back of the card, it features a piece of banner that was used at the event. Specifically, the bottom-right part of the event's logo:

Coronato has been a point-per-game player in the USHL, in the NCAA for the Harvard Crimson, and in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers:

From what I have seen, he has good hands and isn't afraid of traffic, using physical contact to protect the puck and/or move it forward. He's a little on the small side at 5'10" and 183 pounds, but already has seasons of 24 (47 points) and 18 goals (45 points) under his belt; 30-goal seasons are not beyond his capabilities (he scored 48 in 2020-21 on his way to being named the USHL's Forward Of The Year). He is currently on a seven-year contract that will pay him $6.5M per season. In the current NHL landscape, it'll be second-line money in two or three years.