MATTHEW CORONATO // 2021 Scouting Report #4
Position: LW/C
Stats: 31 goals, 28 Assists, 59 Points, 33 Games played
Team: Chicago Steel, USHL
Committ: Harvard University
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185
DOB: 11/14/2002
Letter=how consistent (A being most consistent)
Number=tier of talent (1 being most talented)
RANKED:
Ranked #9 by DR. TEE SCOUTING
Ranked #31 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #31 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #20 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #36 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #22 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #33 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #27 by THE PUCK AUTHORITY
SCOUTING REPORT:
Welcome back to another Dr. Tee Scouting report, and in this one I’ll be looking over Chicago Steel standout Matthew Coronato, and why if he does fall to the late first round, and early second round, why it could be the steal of the draft. Matthew Coronato has a November, 2002 birthday so he is older than most of his competition, but that really hasn’t been a factor into why he’s been so good at the USHL level. Instead he’s really just blossomed into the best player in the USHL this year, and I think the bigger role that he’s now playing with the Steel has increased the amount of time he gets to really showcase his skill, and wreak havoc on opposing defenses. So let’s dive right in, and find out why Matthew Coronato is a bit of a wild card, but at the same one of, if not the most talented player in this draft.
SKATING - 1B
Matthew Coronato is right up in the conversation of the best skaters in the draft, and I don’t think you could make an argument saying he shouldn’t be. When you actually watch him play you’ll understand just how crazy, elusive, and deceptive he is with the puck, and how well he can manage his speed. He maxes his speed out so he’s easily able to burn past defenders with only a couple of strides. His acceleration is one of the highest in the draft as well, and is a big reason why is so fast. The big reason why he’s such an effective skater though, is his ability to mold his skating into his regular play. I don’t even know how to explain it, but his explosiveness, speed, acceleration, and all that stuff he just puts together in all of the right ways. Coronato is able to maneuver in, and out of traffic, speeding up as he does it but still maintaining control of the puck. He’s a player you want to watch skate because he’s just that good at it. I couldn’t give him the full 1A because I think he hasn’t really reached the eleven of full consistency yet, but at the same time he’s still pretty consistent throughout his entire skating ability. If that sounds a little hard to digest then your probably not alone, but here is a clip that shows just how well he can skate:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/174mJWvMhus77BUwm22GsFgA-1RsxWd9e/view?usp=drivesdk
That ought to solve any doubts you have about his game!
PASSING + PUCK SKILLS - 1C
Matthew Coronato is one of the smoothest puck handlers in the draft this year, and the clip I just showed you should explain that pretty well on its own as well. His puck moving ability should be right up in the mix with guys like Luke Hughes, and even someone like Jeremy Wilmer. Corornato’s numbers speak for themselves as he even had more controlled total offensive zone transitions then Like Hughes in my tracking with him carrying the puck up the center of the ice and into the o-zone 17 times, as opposed to Luke Hughes’ 11. He also had the 2nd most total controlled zone transitions second to only Hughes who had 24 in 3 games that I tracked, and Matt Coronato who had 18 in 2 games, and will also probably take over the no. 1 spot once I track his 3rd game. Despite all of the great things that his game provides when he has the puck on his stick, he’s also great at playing above the puck, and head manning the puck when he knows he has an outlet. Another great thing with his game is the fact that he spots open men in the offensive zone like it’s nothing, and even though he still loves to Create scoring chances with his shot, you can argue he’s just as good of a playmaker. Coronato can be described in the offensive zone for the most part as a juggernaut, but he did earn a C on his consistency grade for a reason. Even though Coronato has all of these tools, and is arguably the greatest puck facilitator in the draft overall, there are times where he does lack consistency. He can throw away passes, and make lazy plays at the end of a shift, but that can be improved, and I think that it definitely will. Overall, Coronato is another player that has impressed me with both his overall play, and data. Completing 82.14% of his passes, 23/28, as well as 28.17% of his passes being directed to high, or medium danger areas of the ice, 6/28, and completing 75% of his high or medium danger passes, 4/6. If he can translate these skills to the NHL level, like I think he can, then he will be an offensive threat every time he’s on the ice, that the defense can’t take their eyes off of.
SHOT - 1C
Coronato has a very good shot that he can unleash from a number of places on the ice, and is great at finding high danger areas on the ice where he can unleash his deadly shot. Although it lacks consistency or terms of accuracy, he usually has good accuracy, sneaking the puck in areas the crowd watching didn’t even know where there. He doesn’t shoot the puck too much, registering 8 shots, and 3 high, or medium danger, averaging a very good 4 shots per game through the 2 games that I’ve tracked. He often uses his skating, and puck handling to be one of the most deceptive players on the ice, utilizing his shot to the max by using this strategy. It’s a little hard to explain, but the real gust of it, is that he’s able to disguise his shot, making it look like he’s about to pass before quickly getting a shot on jet that most of the time results in a great A scoring chance, or the other way around. He can scare defenders with his, and trick them into giving him more space than he really needs, where then he can quickly cut into the middle of the ice, and unleash his silky smooth hands, and that’s when you really know that you're in trouble. He’s very good at anticipating play as well, and he does that at a very high pace. There’s not much else to say, but he’s not just a one dimensional player. He gets to high danger spots, and has a variety of different shots he can use at any different moment as he's very good at too. He projects as a potential 25, to even 30 goal scorer if he does hit his peak, especially if he plays on a team like the Winnipeg Jets, or Toronto Maple Leafs.
DEFENSIVE PLAY - 2B
Matthew Coronato is by no means an astounding defensemen player, but for a winger, and part time center I think he does his job in the defensive zone, and what he needs to do relatively well. He does have some problems, such as fleeing the defensive zone too early, and recognizing breakouts, or jumping ahead of the play a little too early. It’s almost like he gets happy feet, and just wants to go which can be either a big, or not a problem at all depending on how you look at it, but I do think it’s something that can be leveled out in his game. It’s more effort standpoint I think, and mentally, than just his overall defensive ability, so he needs to improve, but when he’s locked in in the defensive zone, he can make some very good plays. He can shut down passing, and shooting lanes very effectively, and apply pressure to the puck carries, and there targets very well too. With him I think it’s more of a long run sort of situation, because at the NCAA next year, at one of the best two way teaching hockey schools, he won’t be able to get away with a whole bunch. If I have to wait for him to develop his defensive tools, and his hockey sense in his own end, fine, but I’m dragging him for his offensive and his transition game. His motto seems to be, get the puck out of my zone as quick as I can, then score a goal. So overall, he needs to work on his defensive game, and I hope that’s the vibe that you're getting. But he’s just extremely raw mentally, and if he can continue to show positive progression, then there’s a chance he can become a positive plus minus in his own end when he really has to start carrying his team.
OVERALL - 1C
Overall, Coronato is one of the most raw, and untouched prospects in this year's draft. He has the talent of a top 5 pick, and if you draft him that’s probably what you're betting on. He has great straight line speed, and elite agility, and the way that he mashes his natural skating with his overall tool sets is astonishing. I honestly wouldn’t mind picking him high in the draft especially, if some of my higher graded players in the draft, such as Aatu Räty, Carson Lambos, or Oskar Olausson are off the board at the 13-25 range. He has a lot to work on, and can definitely be considered as a boom, or bust prospect, but I’m willing to make the bet he’s more of a boom, than a bust.
Dynamic
Offensive
High pace, speedy
PLAYER COMPARISON: JESPER BRATT
Both Bratt, and Coronato have sneaky hands, and can wowe you with their skill. They’re both not a very big physical presence, or a force in their own zone, but when they have the puck on their stick in transition, 9 times out of 10 something great will happen with it. They create space for themselves, and their teammates, have silky mitts, and great skating. They can play with their speed, and slow down, or speed up on a dime throwing off defenders, and creating scoring opportunities. I see Coronato as a more unrefined version of Bratt for these reasons, but believe he has the potential to turn out a lot better than Bratt may, even though Bratt is still very young.
All writing by Noah, DR. TEE SCOUTING