Latest news with #Faceoff
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sidney Crosby, Marc-André Fleury, and Mikko Rantanen star in Faceoff Season 2 — here's why fans are hyped for the NHL docuseries
If you thought hockey season was over when the final buzzer sounded, think again. Hockey's biggest stars are headed to your screen this fall, but not on the ice, they're starring in Amazon Prime Video's Faceoff: Inside the NHL Season 2. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And the lineup? Absolutely stacked. Sidney Crosby, Marc-André Fleury, and Mikko Rantanen are among the new faces set to bring fans deep into the highs, lows, and hidden moments of NHL life. This announcement has already set social media buzzing, with fans eager to see how some of the league's most private and legendary figures will open up. Why Sidney Crosby, Marc-André Fleury, and Mikko Rantanen's addition makes Faceoff Season 2 a must-watch for NHL fans For years, fans have wondered what Sidney Crosby is like away from the rink, the ultra-private Penguins captain rarely shares personal details. Now, Faceoff promises a rare peek behind the curtain, letting fans see the human side of a hockey icon. Marc-André Fleury's inclusion adds extra emotion, as the beloved goaltender heads into his final NHL season. Watching him reflect on his career, his legacy, and what comes next will be one of the season's most heartwarming storylines. Mikko Rantanen, meanwhile, has gone through trades, big playoff moments, and off-ice challenges, making his journey one of the most dramatic arcs. Combined, these three stars bring a mix of legacy, emotion, and tension that sets this season apart. What else fans can expect from the new season of Faceoff It's not just Crosby, Fleury, and Rantanen carrying the show. Season 2 will also feature Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, William Nylander, Anze Kopitar, and Brendan Shanahan. This all-star cast offers fans a full-spectrum look at the NHL from rookies and rising stars to veterans and executives. What makes Faceoff stand out is its focus on the emotional side of the game: family life, team dynamics, personal setbacks, and locker-room moments that fans never get to see on game night. Season 1 was praised for its authentic storytelling, and Season 2 looks ready to go even deeper. Also read -
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sidney Crosby, Tkachuk Brothers, Marc-André Fleury Star in Amazon Prime's ‘Faceoff' Season 2 NHL docuseries
Sidney Crosby, known for his private nature and leadership with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is stepping off the ice and into the spotlight. He'll star in Amazon Prime's Faceoff: Inside the NHL Season 2, offering fans unprecedented behind-the-scenes access. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Joining Crosby are NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Dallas Stars' Mikko Rantanen, and former Penguins goalie Marc-André Fleury during his final NHL season, making this docuseries a must-watch for hockey fans. 'Faceoff' Season 2 reveals unseen sides of Sidney Crosby, Fleury , and top NHL players Unlike traditional sports coverage, Faceoff strips away the polished post-game quotes and offers something real. Viewers will see these NHL stars in their most human moments—training, reflecting, interacting with family, and coping with the demands of elite competition. For someone as famously private as Crosby, that's a huge shift. The cameras followed Crosby throughout the 2024–25 NHL season and into the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, capturing his daily routine, quiet leadership, and what drives him after nearly two decades in the league. Fans will finally see the man behind the legend on his own terms, but still far more candid than ever before. This exclusive behind-the-scenes access offers a rare look into the life of one of the NHL's greatest players. Marc-André Fleury's journey is especially emotional, as the series documents his final year in the NHL. A former No. 1 overall pick and Stanley Cup champion, Fleury opens up about life, legacy, and walking away from the game he loves. While fans are excited, not everyone's sold on this level of access. Some critics wonder if revealing too much will chip away at what makes these players so respected, their focus, mystique, and professionalism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But for many, it's a chance to see that even legends are human. Also Read: With Faceoff Season 2 dropping soon, expect a deeper connection between fans and their favorite NHL stars and maybe a new appreciation for what goes on when the cameras usually aren't rolling. The series captures exclusive behind-the-scenes moments with legends like Sidney Crosby and Marc-André Fleury, revealing the personal side of hockey.
National Post
4 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Amazon Prime series goes behind the scenes with ex-Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, NHL stars
The next team thinking of hiring Brendan Shanahan as an executive will have some candid behind-the-scenes visuals of him at work to use as a resource. Article content Article content Toronto's former team president will appear among an impressive list of National Hockey League players for Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video's Faceoff: Inside the NHL, set to premier in the autumn of 2025. Article content The intimate look at the stars at work — and play — scored many points with subscribers last year with such features as the mic'd up rivalry between Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk in the Stanley Cup final and the lasting friendship of Maple Leafs winger William Nylander and Boston's David Pastrnak that had to be shelved in the Toronto-Boston series. Nylander also will appear in Season 2. Article content Article content 'This year, fans can expect more of the unexpected,' Mark Shopiro, head of Prime Video Canada, told Postmedia. Article content Article content 'We were really excited by fan reaction the first year, some things they hadn't ever seen before, through the lens of the players, their families and friends. Our cameras were rolling behind the scenes again and we have a lot of great highlights.' Article content Similar to Season 1, two or three dozen players volunteered or were asked by the league to be profiled by London, England-based Box to Box Productions. Article content Some storylines grew organically from mid-season through the Cup final, while filming this year began with the 4 Nations tournament in February in hopes some players would get deep in the playoffs as teammates or foes. Article content 'We're featuring the oldest generational players — Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin's milestone goal chase (and retiring netminder Marc-Andre Fleury),' Shopiro said. 'They'll cross with the younger generation, such as (Los Angeles Kings forward) Quinton Byfield.' Article content 'After Season 1, more players were familiar with the concept and that helped (attract more participants).' Article content Article content More details of Shanahan's segment were to be revealed during a Thursday afternoon media promotional launch in Toronto. Moving from the ice to the hockey office side of the business and perhaps coaches and general manager's lives is a likely progression for the show. Article content 'Shanahan will give viewers different angles,' Shopiro predicted. 'That's what resonated from Season 1, as with Nylander.' Article content McDavid's meltdown after a Cup final loss in Sunrise, Fla., stood out last year. Article content 'Dig the f*** in, right f***ing now,' the captain berated his Oilers as a staffer eventually closed the dressing door to keep out the Prime crew's cameras. Article content 'Part of the game,' Shopiro said of including the F-bombs and raw exchanges that naturally ramp up in playoffs. Article content Also to be featured in Season 2 are the travels of Mikko Rantanen — who was traded twice during the season — both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan of the Columbus Blue Jackets as they deal with the tragic pre-season death of teammate Johnny Gaudreau. Article content
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Inside Amazon's first year streaming the NHL and whether their Rogers deal will continue
When the NHL and Rogers announced last April that Amazon had signed a two-year deal to produce and stream Monday NHL games exclusively in Canada, it was reasonable to wonder about Amazon Prime Video's long-term play. Now that the league has announced a 12-year extension of Rogers' exclusive Canadian broadcast rights — beginning at the end of next season, when the current deal expires — we have more insight into the future of hockey broadcasts on Canadian screens. Prime Video launched 'Monday Night Hockey' this season by subletting one night's worth of those rights from Rogers. It will continue next season, essentially giving Amazon a two-year audition for a larger portion of NHL broadcasting rights in the future. Advertisement If Prime Video pulled off 'Monday Night Hockey' with any degree of success, could the streaming giant angle for a bigger piece of the Canadian NHL deal after its first two years are up? Tony Staffieri, Rogers president and CEO, said on Wednesday that Rogers has every intention of subletting its exclusive rights. 'Yes, we'll look to it — as a possibility and as a strong possibility,' Staffieri said. 'Today, we sublicense French content as well as streaming with Amazon. Those have been terrific partnerships and as we look to the next 12 years, the agreement with the NHL is that we'll look for opportunities to continue to sublicense where they make sense.' Amazon declined to comment on how Rogers' announcement affects the future of Prime Video and NHL broadcasts. Still, it has to be good news when the president of Rogers is asked about your existing sub-lease and says, 'Those have been terrific partnerships.' Rogers paid $11 billion for 12 years' worth of exclusive Canadian rights starting in 2026-27. One way to recoup some of its investment — and spare itself from taxing Sportsnet staff with the heavy lift of broadcasting every Canadian game — is to continue those subleasing agreements, whether to Amazon, RDS or on new frontiers. Whether Prime Video continues its Monday night broadcasts, picks a new night or expands to add a second night remains to be seen; what's clear is that there is opportunity for it to grow its NHL footprint heading into 2026-27. 'There is nothing more valuable in this country from a media standpoint than having the rights to the NHL,' NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the joint news conference. How much of that value will belong to Amazon? Now that Prime Video has completed most of its first season, we have insight into how they've approached it. There are elements of Amazon's production during their Monday night broadcast (and in its behind-the-scenes documentary series 'Faceoff') that are resource-intensive. Prime Video has committed budget in the form of on- and off-air broadcasting talent that travels from one city to the next. It broadcasts with features like AI-enhanced slow-motion replays, Dolby 5.1 surround sound and warm-up footage, using a 1080p HD resolution other Canadian broadcasts don't yet match. Advertisement In an effort to put a focus on the Canadian cities, the broadcast team is traveling from city to city for all 26 games. Prime Video's goal is to make each city feel like a character in the broadcast — something they've achieved in part through that travel and in part through the collection of additional footage of each city. The other way Prime Video has made the most of its resources is hiring top on- and off-air talent, said Mark Shopiro, head of Prime Video Canada. John Forslund was one of Prime Video's key NHL hires, topping a talent list that includes Adnan Virk, Andi Petrillo, Thomas Hickey, Blake Bolden, Jody Shelley and Shane Hnidy. Forslund, whose nearly 40 years of play-calling experience include TNT, ESPN, NBC, and a host of other American broadcasts, recalls that Prime Video's pitch to him was unique. 'In my career, no one's ever asked me, 'What's your opinion on how to call a hockey game?'' Forslund said. Forlsund told his wife after the interview that it was the first time in his career that it felt like someone cared how he thought a hockey game should be presented. The feeling stuck with him. Forslund said the beauty of an NHL game is that there are 20 players on each team who could become the story on any given night. He does his homework on each one, so that he's ready no matter what happens instead of trying to shoehorn topics into the game in advance. Shopiro also points to Prime Video's hiring success behind the camera. Each Prime Video game is directed by Mark Askin, who produced Toronto Maple Leafs games for 36 years, including for 'Hockey Night in Canada.' He was coaxed out of retirement. Seated at the front of the truck, watching the live action through all of Amazon's angles simultaneously, Askin spends each broadcast calling out instructions to the team of technicians who turn live audio and video into the produced broadcast. Every time there's a big play — or a subtle, important one — Askin calls cues to his crew, with staff responsible for preparing each color-coded feed in real time. Advertisement Is all of this investment working? Prime Video says it is. Their 'Monday Night Hockey' broadcast delivers significantly younger audiences than other broadcasts, according to data provided by Prime Video. The median age for their viewings is 43 years old, compared to 55 for last season's Monday night games and 54 for 'Hockey Night in Canada' this season, with growth in various demographic ranges from age 18 to 54. Prime Video's analytics also show that the average length of a watching session has increased by 33 percent compared to last season. Live sports are part of the next streaming boom, with Prime Video, Apple TV and others competing with each other for the eyeballs they don't already get from film and TV series. Now that Rogers has secured another 12 years worth of broadcast rights, will Prime continue its partnership? 'I can't speculate on future rights. I think what I can say is that we remain committed and focused to getting the game right in our first season of the deal that we're on,' Shopiro said. 'We're always looking at opportunities for how we can bring value and enhance the Prime membership and believe that live sport has a big part to play in that.' (Top photo of the Prime Video broadcast truck: Courtesy Kendra Hope Penner)
