Matt Coronato expected to be scratched tonight, Ryan Huska’s baffling decisions continue

The 2025-26 season is only nine games old, and yet it already feels like an eternity. The Flames have been the worst team in the NHL this season, in large part because they can’t score. Through nine games, they’ve managed a league-worst 15 goals, six fewer than the next-worst team.

Ryan Huska has decided to shake up his lineup in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, scratching the team’s best goal scorer in Matt Coronato. Scratching Yegor Sharngovich made sense. The 27-year-old has looked completely uninterested dating back to last season and is completely unable to contribute in any way when he’s not scoring. Coronato offers much more than Sharangovich, and his scratch is frankly undefendable. Here’s why the move simply makes no sense.

Coronato is the team’s best goal scorer

Sitting your best pure goal scorer in the midst of an eight-game losing streak where you’ve managed just 12 goals is certainly a bold choice, and not a good one. Sure, Coronato hasn’t been great with just two goals on the season, but he’s still one of only four Flames with more than one goal.

He also finished third on the team in goals last season with 24 at just 22 years old. On a team lacking talent, Coronato possesses the best shot and goal-scoring ability on the entire team. Scratching him is counterproductive in the worst ways.

Coronato has been among the Flames’ best forwards at generating chances

Has Coronato struggled? Absolutely. Has he been the team’s worst forward? Not even close. Here’s where Coronato ranks among key metrics when it comes to goal and chance generation. All numbers are courtesy of naturalstattrick.com.