During the NHL’s GM Meetings in Florida we had an interesting tidbit dropped by TSN’s Chris Johnston. The NHL has reportedly signed on with Amazon to produce a behind-the-scenes series featuring 10-12 star players. The concern for a project like this is not only who will be in it, but also who would be interesting to follow. With the series expected to be released in the fall, the subjects have likely already been through a selection process. With that being said let’s figure out who could be featured on the NHL’s Amazon series.
Superstars
The easiest answer to this question is to fill this series with the top scorers in the league, but being a top scorer does not ensure a top personality. Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews seem likely candidates due to their stardom and willingness to propel the game forward. Other superstars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar may stray away from the spotlight, hoping to focus on their game and on another championship run. If MacKinnon were put on display fans would be introduced to the true hockey lunatic of our generation. Taking players from this group would spotlight the best and brightest the league offers.
Young Guns
Connor Bedard leads this category as one of the NHL’s next superstars. There is no denying that a series like this could propel Bedard to bigger heights off the ice. Other young guns that we could see like Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield, and Jason Robertson would give the NHL a chance to show off their young American talent. Picking a young gun for the Amazon series would be based on what they could be, instead of what they are now. Getting to show the future talent of the league today should be a priority as the NHL tries to grow.
International Players
The NHL has grown exponentially across the globe in the last few decades. Although next year features a Four Nations face-off the amount of countries featured in the NHL is only growing. Top players like Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, and David Pastrnak are three of the biggest stars in the league. Pastrnak especially has already proven what a big personality he is, and a show like this would only exemplify it. A couple more German options would include, Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings and controversial figure Tim Stutzle. The league will always benefit from big personalities from across the globe. These players could only exemplify that narrative.
Goalies
The most interesting position in the NHL usually features some interesting personalities. From Ilya Bryzgalov explaining the solar system, to the Star Wars-like stretching of Devon Levi. Goalies are characters to put it lightly. Right now we have a plethora of interesting goaltenders, like Marc-Andre Fleury, the Russian pair of Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin, and the tandem of friendship between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Hockey fans will enjoy the interesting personality quirks and routines required to be an NHL goaltender.
Brothers
The last and most interesting group would be to cast a pair or more of brothers to follow around. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk could not be having more different seasons, but to see them together and most likely feature Keith alongside would be a thrill ride. Even not as prominent pairs like Mathieu and Pierre-Olivier Joseph or Nick and Jason Robertson would be fascinating to follow. The number one family we would all love to see is the Hughes. Formally a pair in Quinn and Jack, you can now bring Luke to the fold with his brother Jack in New Jersey. Getting to see the two brothers together while Quinn is on one of the top teams in the NHL would be a treat to see.
Although the NHL has a lot of options with what they can do with this show, variety has got to be the priority. If we see some combination of these categories above, it will allow enough range for a very entertaining show. Seeing not only the superstars, but also the big personalities that some of these players may have. We’ve seen the success of shows like Drive to Survive and Quarterback which are personality driven. Hockey players do not have the best reputation for personalities, but this is a chance to change that narrative. This is a superstar show in the making, and it only matters who is ready to take that next step. These are our best options for who could star in the NHL’s Amazon series.
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