This is difficult to explain, but I think I have had Coronato too low.
When I look at the Flames prospects/young players, I try to gauge how important that player is to 'winning' long-term. How much of a difference maker I think that player will be. It isn't just about production - for instance, I have had Backlund solidly in the core of this team the moment I recognized that he was an elite-level defensive center. I had Brodie in the core as well once I recognized he tilted the ice in both directions, was hard to break on a forecheck, and was sublime as part of a lightning-quick transition. So it isn't all just a matter of points. I also recognize that everyone has their own definitions.
For me, a core player is a game-changer that helps a team win. A consistent game changer. For instance, here is how people see the future core:
- Wolf - Everyone can agree that Wolf is a member of the future core of this team
- Parekh - mostly everyone has Parekh inside the future core of this team
I think those both hold up really well, even though Parekh hasn't 'arrived' yet. I think he will, so I personally place him inside the core even if he is not yet contributing anywhere close to what a core piece should be. I think he will get there.
Gridin I am putting inside the core as well. With his size, speed and how quickly he is translating it to the pros, I think he will become a legitimate 1st line play-driving winger. Maybe he bounces out of the core (or never lives up to my expectations), but as of now, I have to include him as the future core of this team.
Coronato I had just out. I looked at him as a complimentary top 6 goal scoring winger. Wouldn't look out of place on the top line, but solidly as a complimentary winger to a strong pairing. With his second season now of being so tenacious, I think he is becoming a play-driving top 6 winger. I have him on the cusp right now of being a core piece. Sure, your definition might have included him as of day 1 of being drafted, but I wasn't too high on him. I always thought he would be a complimentary piece - doesn't mean expendable, just not a pay driver.
I have stated on many occasions that Wolf and Parekh are likely the only core pieces in the organization, but that there may be more already drafted. Now with Gridin, I have 3 for sure, and with Coronato not only scoring goals, but seemingly drive offence himself, I have him at least on the cusp.
This isn't too say that there is nobody else already drafted. Reshny might be someone. Wyttenbach might be one. Mews. I am still high on Battaglia. Heck, Klapka is inconsistent at times, but when he is 'on', he is a completely dominant player out there. If he starts adding that consistency to his game, as well as taking another couple of steps (and he has come a LONG way already), he might be a core piece in the middle-six. So I am not stating that there isn't any more core pieces, I am just stating that I believe that the future core consists of "X, Y, Z" already, and potentially more.
Wolf, Parekh, Gridin are part of my core, with Coronato being right at that line now. As I said, more prospects that may potentially get there, but that's my core
so far.
In the past, I had Backlund solidly in my core with Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Giordano, Brodie, Monahan. Yes, maybe Backlund and Brodie stick out to you, but my core is about difference makers - Backlund became part of my core the minute he started showing up as an elite-level defensive center. Brodie became part of the core when he started tilting the ice with GIordano, being able to transition the puck up the ice like a magician, and never seemingly getting rattled under forecheck pressure (he would either use his skating to evade a forecheck, or make sublime passes negating forechecks) - basically, elite 'game changers' even if it wasn't offence.
Just really loving Coronato's game right now. I thought he would turn it around based on what we saw from him last season, but I argue he looks better now - he seems to drive play more than he did last season. Are people seeing the difference? Is the underlying metrics supportive of that?
TLDR; Last season, I saw Coronato as a strong complimentary scoring winger. This season (after turning his game around) I see him as a play driving scoring winger. Are people seeing this too?
I think we are really seeing Coronato really popping now.
Flames 5 Canucks 2
