Flames’ Matt Coronato in Hot Water Over Agent’s Actions

Calgary Flames youngster Matt Coronato is obviously not pleased to be back down in the AHL, and neither is his agency, apparently. Many in the agency, including Coronato's agent, John Kofi Osei-Tutu, retweeted comments that criticized the player's demotion, while also taking aim at one particular Flames teammate. Many around the team were angered by the retweets (reposts).

The following are the original comments that Osei-Tutu reposted:

The original tweets basically took issue at Calgary prioritizing veteran Anthony Mantha (signed as a free agent this past summer) over Coronato's development at the NHL level.

The reposts by the agency have since been taken down. But the damage was already done.

The Flames have been off to a decent start this season, though they’ve now lost two in a row.

Insider Elliotte Friedman noted on his 32 Thoughts podcast Monday morning that the incident might not be going over well with the former first-rounder's more veteran teammates in Calgary—and in particular, Mantha, obviously.

“I’m worried for Coronato that the veterans will look at this and say, ‘Wait a minute we’re doing well and this is what’s coming out?’ It’s not going to go over very well and it’s going to have to be settled.

"I understand everybody wants to be in the NHL, but you can’t do it when the team is doing well."

Coronato, 21, had two goals in his first five games of the season with Calgary, and a plus/minus rating of +3. Last season, in 34 games, he had nine points and a -15 rating. He's now back with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL, where he had a fine season last year with 42 points in 41 games.

He was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.