ENTERING THE ARENA
All or Nothing gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Maple Leafs
All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs Amazon Prime Video
Among the new revelations in Amazon Prime Video's All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs is the little-known fact that the players have an ultraexclusive “Coffee Gang.”
But even though he was the team's leader in points last season with 41 goals and 25 assists, centre Auston Matthews isn't part of the “hush, hush” members-only club.
“Those guys take it to another level,” Matthews says in a video call following his first practice with the team since undergoing wrist surgery in August.
The “Gang” — which includes Mitch Marner and former Leafs Nick Foligno and Zach Hyman — even have a name for their secret brew crew: Cafe Med-3.
“It started with the French press and the kettle,” head athletic therapist Paul Ayotte says. “Now we have a trunk that carries all the goods.”
Narrated by Will Arnett, the docuseries takes viewers inside general manager Kyle Dubas's office as he, head coach Sheldon Keefe and team president Brendan Shanahan try to build a winning roster around its core group of players — Matthews, John Tavares, Marner and William Nylander.
Matthews spoke with Postmedia about the docuseries.
Q Did you have any trepidation about cameras in the locker-room?
A I think we understood what it was going to be all about before we committed to the show. To be honest with you, it wasn't too different. They didn't make you feel like you couldn't be yourself or whatnot. You just knew there were cameras rolling around and they had them set up in different rooms — the locker-room — and they were following us around too. But everyone was super respectful. They didn't get in your way. They just let us do our thing. It wasn't too big of a distraction. I don't think it was a distraction at all to be honest with you. When you're in the heat of the moment in a game or you're focused on something, you're not thinking about the cameras. Besides, there's always cameras around when we're in Toronto anyways. So I didn't find it made that big of a difference and I didn't find it was much of a distraction either.
Q What stands out to you most after watching it?
A I don't want to say that it skips over stuff, but it moves along pretty quick. There's five episodes, so there's only so much you can put in there. But I think it gives a pretty unique perspective. It was an unprecedented year with a lot of unknowns heading into it. So just being able to play hockey, we felt fortunate to do that.
Q It's not the ending fans or the team was hoping for. How does the ending make for a compelling show?
A It was tough watching it.
You see all the guys — myself included — and how devastated we were. I know for us we have the belief in ourselves, and we feel we will get it done and we're going to break through. Regardless of our failures, champions and legends are made of how you respond to failure, not success. Obviously, we've had some devastating losses and heartbreak, but I think for Leafs fans and people watching, they'll see our emotions and how devastated we were and watching that fuels a desire inside of you. It gives you a little extra motivation to prove people wrong and get over that hump.
Q What do you hope your fans take away from the series?
A You get to know the guys a little bit better. You get to see what makes guys tick, whether it's before a game or their off time. It's a different look into the lives of players. But like I said, it moves pretty quick and maybe it's not as in-depth as you'd like it to be.
Q We see you and some of your teammates playing Ping-pong in your downtime. Who's the best Ping-pong player?
A I think Alex Kerfoot is. Him or Justin Holl. Those two are the best that I've seen play on the team. The euros are always good — William (Nylander) is solid. But Kerfoot and Hall are on another level.