Nylander and Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak will premiere in the first episode of the series that releases globally on October 4.
Nylander and Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak will premiere in the first episode of the series that releases globally on October 4.
As anticipation builds for the debut of Prime Video’s docuseries ‘FACEOFF: Inside the NHL,’ which offers behind-the-scenes content of players from the 2024 postseason, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has made it clear that he isn’t particularly eager to tune in.
When asked by reporters on Wednesday following the Leafs’ on-ice practice if he has plans to watch the first episode featuring his teammate William Nylander and Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak, Marner candidly responded, “I probably won't watch it, to be honest. I like watching other documentaries, other sports documentaries. I'll probably tune in a little bit, but I don't think I'll be sitting on the couch throwing that on for the first opportunity."
When prompted about whether his reluctance to watch stems from the subject matter being too close to home – particularly given the playoff context – Marner replied, “Not really. I don’t think it matters about that at all. I don’t know. I’m sure it’ll come on my TV at some point throughout this year, but I won’t be jumping at the bit to watch it.”
Perhaps his disinterest may branch from a desire to avoid re-living the heated exchange that took place during Game 4 of their first-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
If you can recall, Nylander returned to game action for Game 4 of their opening-round playoff series against the Bruins, trailing 2-1 in what felt like a must-win game. As the Leafs fell behind early, losing 2-0 midway through the second period, the broadcast caught Matthews, Marner, and Nylander hashing things out on the bench. At one point, it appeared Nylander told Marner to “Shoot it, stop f*****g crying bro,” prompting Marner to throw his gloves down in frustration. This moment was later confirmed in a trailer released by the NHL on X on Monday, showcasing the players' interaction.
With that, Marner seems content to skip the series that also features Filip Forsberg, Jack Eichel, Jeremy Swayman, Matthew Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, Gabriel Landeskog, Jacob Trouba, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman.
The six-episode series, debuting globally on October 4, continues to build buzz ahead of its release next week.
Here is a breakdown of the episodes:
Episode 1: ‘Best of Rivals’ featuring William Nylander and David Pastrnak
Episode 2: ‘As Tough As It Gets’ featuring Filip Forsberg and Jack Eichel
Episode 3: ‘Learning to Win’ featuring Jeremy Swayman and Matthew Tkachuk
Episode 4: ‘The Captains’ featuring Quinn Hughes, Gabriel Landeskog, and Jacob Trouba
Episode 5: ‘Cup or Bust Part I’ featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman
Episode 6: Cup or Bust Part II’ featuring Matthew Tkachuk and Connor McDavid
On the flip side, the other Nylander brother, Alex, is curious to see how his older sibling is portrayed in the series, as he said Wednesday, “That's going to be interesting. You'll see. Obviously, it was filmed during playoffs, so it's not like much was going on, there was a lot of focus on that. You'll see a little fun side of him, and he's obviously a little different off the ice, and a chill guy. It'll be fun to see. I'm curious too as well."
For Leafs fans, the series, especially episode one, seems like a must-watch. With Nylander at the forefront, the moments captured through their playoff struggles will offer a different and unique perspective ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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