Amazon Prime Video’s five-episode docuseries “All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs,” shows the inner workings of a professional sports organization from every angle and is a must-watch for any hockey fan.

Narrated by life-long Leafs fan Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”), “All or Nothing” puts the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs under a microscope. From the joking between players to deadline trades to tears after losses, the docuseries puts everything out in the open and makes for a raw and vulnerable look at a professional sports team.

At the beginning of the 2020-21 season, many expected the Leafs to finally get past the first round of the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup. It had been 17 seasons since the team won a playoff series and 54 since they won a cup. And yet, as Arnett’s first line of the documentary says, “It happened again,” a fifth consecutive first-round loss for the Leafs.

Despite every viewer knowing the season ends in loss, Arnett spurs excitement for the documentary by asking how the Leaf’s season went so awry. 

“The Toronto Maple Leafs were gonna be bona fide Stanley Cup contenders,” Arnett said. “So, what exactly happened here? Grab a brew and get comfy. You’re gonna wanna see this.”

The series goes through nearly all of the 56 games in the season and discusses the themes throughout, from the strong start, to the troubles down the stretch, to winning the division. It then goes through the seven playoff games, ultimately leading to the end of the season.

If you have ever wondered how a coach and general manager (GM) interact with one another, how GM’s discuss trades, the speeches coaches give to players after a horrible period or the shenanigans players get up to, this series uncovers it all.

In every episode, the emotion of the players, coaches and management is well known. There are frequent one-on-one interviews, as well as cameras on the ice, in the locker rooms and in the offices to catch every moment. Every member of the Leafs’ organization, from top to bottom, is open with the camera crew, allowing fans to see how a team operates and how they feel, like never before. 

Some of the notable moments in the series are goaltender Jack Campbell breaking an NHL record for most consecutive wins to start a season with 11 and Auston Matthews winning the Rocket Richard trophy for most goals in the league in the regular season with 41. Also, on a more somber note, the gruesome injury to captain John Tavares in the first game of the playoffs.

There are also personal touches throughout, such as interviews with the families of player Auston Matthews or Jason Spezza. Or, GM Kyle Dubas playing hockey with his young son.

In terms of presentation, the sound design is a strong feature of the series. The focus of the documentary is the people, so hearing everyone and their stories is crucial. And even when players are on the ice, they can still be heard loud and clear. Also, the visuals of Toronto, surrounding cities and the graphics throughout are impeccable and make the docuseries gorgeous and clean. 

A vulnerable, inside look at a professional sports franchise is not something a fan gets to experience every day. And when it comes in the form of a beautifully put-together documentary filled with great interviews and intense moments like “All or Nothing,” it is definitely worth the watch.

Image from Amazon Prime Video via YouTube