But the 19-year-old soon-to-be sophomore said he can envision himself in the NHL.
"I think about it," Coronato said. "Just kind of see how next year goes and continue to make decisions off that. Right now, I'm just looking to get better and see where things take me.
"I think it's just important for me to keep getting better. The staff there does a great job with developing guys and moving them on, so I think another year there, get bigger and stronger, continue to develop with a lot of my teammates that I like a lot. I just thought it was the best move for me."
Coronato, the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, said he has more goals to accomplish at the college level.
Scoring happens to be his forte; he led the United States Hockey League with 48 goals for Chicago in 2020-21, and had 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games as a freshman last season and earned ECAC All-Rookie Team honors.
He said he feels there's still something to build on at Harvard, though his physical stature (5-foot-10, 183 pounds) might not be one of them.
"I've spent a lot of time with him over the course of the winter and got to know him pretty good," Flames development coach Ray Edwards said. "The first thing I noticed with Matthew after not seeing him for a few months is the work he's put in on his upper body. One of the action items we had for him was to get a bit stronger in the shoulders, arms, wrists, core, those types of things. I can see he's already put that work in."
That's one element on a long list of focal points for Coronato, who represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in December before the tournament was postponed because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus and rescheduled for Aug. 9-20. He will be among the 35 forwards to take part in USA Hockey's evaluation camp for the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Juniors at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan from July 24-Aug. 3.
"It's been a big priority for me," Coronato said of getting stronger. "I've been working out at home with my trainer. He's been great. Putting on upper-body weight was one of the biggest things going into the offseason for me. I think it's going to be big for being hard on pucks, and just shooting, just everything, overall strength.
"I think my speed's a big area I can improve on and I'm looking to improve on. Still putting on a little weight and getting stronger and staying harder on pucks."
The thought of an improved Coronato must be intriguing to Harvard and is certainly exciting for the Flames, who hope to welcome the Greenlawn, New York native sooner rather than later.
And Calgary believes there's lots to be enthusiastic about.
"His competitiveness, his love for the game, his willingness to work, willingness to do whatever it takes to be successful, unbelievable person, work ethic," Edwards said. "Those types of things. We're obviously really excited about him."
