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NHL stars McDavid and Nylander to be featured in new Amazon series
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    NHL stars McDavid and Nylander to be featured in new Amazon series

    The NHL’s forthcoming Amazon Prime docuseries doesn’t even have a title yet, but we can already imagine how it ends: With one of its featured stars hoisting the Stanley Cup.

    That is because the project — which premieres in the fall and promises “unprecedented access to life in the National Hockey League,” according to Thursday’s announcement — prominently features Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, his playoff beat teammate Leon Draisaitl, plus Florida Panthers leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk among its cast.

    Produced by the acclaimed Box To Box Films (Drive to Survive, Break Point, Full Swing) and NHL Films, the untitled series also features in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes access to New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Boston Bruins teammates David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman; Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes; Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander; Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg; and Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who is still enduring a lengthy rehab from injury. 

    “This is so meaningful for our league. Box To Box has revolutionized modern storytelling for Formula 1, golf and tennis,” NHL chief content officer and senior executive vice president Steve Mayer said in a release. “With the full support of the league, players, coaches and owners, we welcome the opportunity to showcase our stars and the greatest season and postseason in sports — the Stanley Cup Playoffs — to a global audience.”

    Amazon Prime has subscribers across 240 countries and territories, so the potential of growing the game’s profile through mic’d-up moments and raw glimpses into its characters and emotions is enticing. 

    Drive to Survive did wonders for F1’s interest, turning casual Netflix viewers into full-blown car-racing fans. (And we hope the show receives a lighter edit than 2021’s All or Nothing: Maple Leafs, the NHL’s initial Amazon collaboration, which had a few spicy scenes but was a little too vanilla for our liking.)

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    Video crews have been following these stars throughout the season and will remain embedded with the Oilers and Panthers during the Cup Final, which begins Saturday.

    “We want to stay true to the world of ice hockey with the series,” said Paul Martin, co-founder of Box To Box Films and executive producer.

    “The sport is as beautiful, skillful and graceful, as it is brutal, pressurized and powerful; and we aim to balance the energetic and fast-paced action leading up to the Stanley Cup Final, with the quiet and raw drama taking place off the ice.” 

    Since Amazon Prime acquired the rights (from Rogers) to broadcast Prime Monday Night Hockey in 2024-25, the popular streamer has a vested interest in growing the sport’s audience.

    Prime Video followed up All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs this season with a pair of excellent hockey documentary premieres, Chosen One: Alexandre Daigle and Saving Sakic, it released in conjunction with the NHL.

    The new untitled docuseries, however, is a more ambitious, current, and star-studded project set to whet appetites before the puck drops in October.

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    Two of the NHL’s brightest young stars, Connor McDavid and William Nylander, are set to be featured in a new Amazon series that will give fans an inside look at their lives both on and off the ice.

    McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, and Nylander, a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, have quickly established themselves as two of the most dynamic and talented players in the league. Their skill and charisma have made them fan favorites, and now fans will have the opportunity to get to know them even better through this new series.

    The show will follow McDavid and Nylander as they navigate the pressures of being professional athletes, from grueling training sessions to intense game days. Viewers will also get a glimpse into their personal lives, seeing how they balance their careers with their relationships, hobbies, and interests outside of hockey.

    In addition to showcasing McDavid and Nylander’s individual journeys, the series will also highlight their unique friendship and rivalry on the ice. As two of the top young players in the league, they have faced off against each other numerous times, creating memorable moments and exciting matchups for fans to enjoy.

    The Amazon series promises to provide an intimate and authentic look at these two NHL superstars, offering fans a behind-the-scenes perspective that they wouldn’t normally get to see. With unprecedented access to their lives both on and off the ice, viewers can expect to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level of professional hockey.

    For fans of McDavid, Nylander, and the NHL in general, this new series is sure to be a must-watch. Stay tuned for more details on when it will be released and how you can tune in to see these two incredible players in action.