Unless it's all, it's nothing.
That's how the Maple Leafs season is judged every season and for the last 54 years, it's been nothing. In 2021, Toronto's season once again ended in disappointment as the team was eliminated in the postseason's first round by the Canadiens in seven games. Despite winning the North Division title in an abbreviated COVID-impacted 56-game season, Leafs fans were once again left empty-handed.
The only positive to yet another disappointing season is that it was all caught on film. In the Amazon Original, "All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs," fans get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all went down. Narrated by Will Arnett, a lifelong Leafs fan himself (and it shows in his narration), the five-episode docuseries showcases interviews with the team, their families and game action from the ice to the bench and beyond.
(WARNING: Spoiler's below)
If you're a fan of the Leafs and watched pretty much every game in the 2021 season, there may not be too many surprises for you in the series. Each episode, which all drop at the same time on Oct. 1, focuses on a chunk of the season and a handful of players in particular. For example: in Episode 2 Jimmy Vesey comes to the forefront, in Episode 3 there are a few minutes dedicated to Justin Holl and Jake Muzzin chipping golf balls and in Episode 5 we meet Jason Spezza's parents.
'ALL OR NOTHING: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS': Release date, trailer
Regardless of your fandom, it's still a good watch as there are little nuggets sprinkled all over the more than four hours of viewing. The NHL peels back the curtain just a smidge as fans get an inside look into team meetings, the training room and what's said on the bench, between coaches and management and inside the locker room.
Here are five things that stood out from the series.
Five things we learned from 'All or Nothing: Maple Leafs'
Joe Thornton is a gem
Ok, it's fair to say everyone knew this one already. But one of the best moments of the series was in Episode 1 when the "bearded rockstar" is in his car listening to Sportsnet 590 The Fan as then-analyst Brian Burke is discussing the signing of the long-time Sharks forward
"Was that the best use of that chunk of money? ... I think they should have spent that money elsewhere," Burke says as Thornton gives a chuckle.
The series also gives some insight into Thornton's fractured rib that caused him to miss a little over three weeks and his relationship with his teammates. Likewise, you won't want to miss his "love" for the Jets' Nikolaj Ehlers.
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The severity of injuries
Speaking of injuries: the Maple Leafs had a number of key injuries in 2021, and while they played out over the course of a number of months in reality when watching it all unfold in about four to five hours it's a little jarring. From Thornton's rib injury and leg infection to Wayne Simmonds' fractured wrist to Nick Foligno's back issue in the playoffs. (We also learn just how much the Leafs wanted Foligno in Episode 3.)
One of the biggest nuggets was Jack Campbell's groin injury. If you recall in that late-January game at the Saddledome, Campbell made a stop late in the third period and appeared to be in some discomfort between the pipes. In Episode 2, we hear him tell his teammates at one point that he "felt a huge pop" and "I tore my groin three minutes ago but I'm going try and finish."
(Side note: Jack Campbell is also a gem and you'll see why throughout the series.)
The series also takes us into the scene on the ice after the John Tavares injury.
Frederik Andersen's time in Toronto was borrowed
It gets pretty clear about halfway through that Andersen was never re-signing in Toronto. The Maple Leafs brass — from head coach Sheldon Keefe to GM Kyle Dubas — seemed unhappy with the notion that he'll be out till "he feels physically fit and able to do it."
Confidence appears to be lost in the No. 1 netminder.
The only one who may not have lost confidence in Andersen was goalie coach Steve Briere who defends him against an agitated Keefe after a 4-3 loss to the Flames in March. Andersen wasn't much of a focus in the series (Campbell was the star) and we never really learn much about what was going on with him during the season.
There's a hint as to why Ilya Mikheyev wanted out
On Sept. 9, Sportsnet's Elliotte Freidman reported that Mikheyev asked for a trade after the season ended.
"What is important to the story is that the Maple Leafs made it clear they do not want to accommodate this request," Friedman wrote. "With Zach Hyman and Joe Thornton gone from the left wing, the organization told Mikheyev it considers him a key part of their team and are counting on him to have a big year."
In Episode 2, Dubas calls Mikheyev in to see where his "head is at." Ice time seems to be a central issue for the young forward as he suggests with lowered minutes his confidence goes down. Dubas pumps his tires and says that he's playing well and making an impact regardless of the time but a few minutes later it shows Keefe calling him into the office to talk about his skating between periods of a game against the Senators.
Sheldon Keefe is an NHL coach
Say what you will about the way the season ended, Keefe showcases in the series why he has the chops to be a solid NHL coach. The ex-NHLer who will finally see a full 82-game slate in 2021-22 (he joined the Leafs in November 2019) and get to experience carrying a team beyond a short window.
Over the course of the series, Keefe — who isn't much older than his players and is actually younger than Thornton — takes the time to talk to his players. He explains to select guys why they're not getting ice time, he pulls Auston Matthews to the side to discuss his comments to media and he reaches out to the veterans to get the mood of the room. And Keefe, who hails from Brampton, Ont., understands the enormity of what the team has to do; from the jump, he wants his guys playing playoff hockey.
Does he curse a whole lot in this series? Absolutely but you can tell he knows when to ride his team and when to let it go. His speech before the overtime session of Game 6 is one of the best pump-up speeches you'll ever hear and explains why, despite the loss, the team came out firing on all cylinders.
'All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs' release date, how to watch
- Release date: Friday, Oct. 1
- How to watch: Amazon Prime
"All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs" will be released Friday, Oct. 1. Prime Video is available in Canada at no extra cost to Prime members. Amazon Prime membership costs CAD $79 a year or CAD $7.99 a month (plus applicable taxes). New customers can subscribe to a free 30-day trial. For more information, click here.
The Canadian Amazon Original series will be available in more than 240 countries and territories, including the United States.