[united]

Considered
Connor Zary
Matt Coronato

The Flames' two best prospects by a significant margin and you can't go wrong voting for either - these two are on a ledge by themselves. I am very pleased to have these two players in the system as I had each of them in my pre-draft top 10 in their respective drafts.

My prospect model, which adjusts for age, height, position, goals-per-game, assists-per-game, handedness, PIMs, and ice time in professional leagues, has Coronato ahead of Zary at 54 pre-UFA points-per-82 to 47 (meaning is projects ppg of players from their first NHL game to UFA - or expected value while under team control). That said, this one was a toss-up for me but ultimately went with Zary due to centre being his natural position, the old eye test, and his game transferring to pro without issue albeit in a small sample: the major junior to AHL jump is the largest year-over-year increase in quality of competition most prospects go through.

One thing to keep in mind through this voting process is strength of draft relative to picked position. Zary and Coronato conveniently provide a good illustration. On the surface, Coronato at 12th overall appears to be a much better prospect than Zary at 24th. However, with the added context that the 2020 draft is, on paper, projected to be the best or second best draft of the decade while the 2021 draft is projected to be the worst or second worst, and you get two prospects who are similar in potential despite the draft position disparity. Reverse years and they are likely picked in similar positions.

Connor Zary
A solid two-way centre leaning a bit more to the offence side of the equation. Uses his low centre of gravity to his advantage and is capable playing up the middle and in traffic. Very good attention to detail and his ability to process the game is his strength. Neither shot or skating will blow anyone away but I have no doubt his skating will rapidly improve and I love the Flames are targeting players needing that area improved. Just a guess, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a Daymond Langkow mold: to the average fan he seems boring or even underwhelming, but he does all the little things right that lead to his line's success and a lengthy career for himself.

Ceiling: #1 centre
Probable: 2A centre (Style: Daymond Langkow)
Floor: 4th-line journeyman

Matt Coronato
Exploded into the picture this year putting up a season for the ages. Took full advantage of increased powerplay usage but with expected organic progression at even strength as well, plus increased responsibility down a man. As yet another product of rising star, and new Maple Leafs' hire, Ryan Hardy's Chicago Steel, you have to be optimistic about the foundation that has been put in place for Coronato. Having multiple NHL-caliber development professionals at the USHL level will pay dividends for him and all his drafted teammates. Some will see 5'10 and think undersized, but make no mistake: Coronato goes hard to the tough areas, not dissimilar to fellow 5'10 Flames player Andrew Mangiapane. Already boasting an NHL shot he is able get unleash from varying release points, really the only knock, if that, is his skating can be improved. I have no doubt it will. Very exciting prospect. Gets a very slight knock due the Harvard/college UFA situation - let's see. Probably sticks at wing as he levels up but played quite a bit of C this season as well.

Ceiling: 1st-line winger
Probable: 1B/2A winger (Style: Jonathan Marchessault)
Floor: 4th-line journeyman