New Jersey Devils could make a devastating mistake with goalie depth

Nico Daws learned this season that his path to the NHL is likely not going to come in New Jersey. In the offseason, the Devils signed backup goalie Jake Allen to a five-year deal. Daws was on a one-way deal and waivers eligible this season, meaning he will make an NHL salary in the AHL, and any team would have a chance to claim him if he were to fail to make the NHL roster.

In a pretty obvious series of events, Daws did not make the Devils' roster, and he was placed on waivers before the season started. To almost everyone’s surprise, nobody claimed him. He did have a rough preseason, so teams might have been hesitant to give him a real shot in the NHL.

Just a few weeks later, Daws was in the NHL. Jacob Markstrom suffered an injury, and the Devils needed someone to play backup to Allen. Daws was incredible in his one appearance for the Devils this season. He allowed one goal against the Minnesota Wild on 31 shots against. It wasn’t an easy night for him, but it was a very successful one. 

Then, the Devils welcomed Markstrom back to the team after his injury, and Daws returned to the Utica Comets. Soon after that, Markstrom signed a large two-year deal, paying him $6 million per season to stay as the starting goalie. This basically sealed Daws’s fate in the organization. 

While his future is uncertain, Daws is incredibly important in the present. We’ve seen this story way too many times. The usual starting goalie does not have it or gets injured right before the playoffs, and the team is forced to go with the unproven young guy. It happened in 2023, when Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek failed to give the Devils a chance to win. Lindy Ruff went with Akira Schmid, and he won them their first-round series against the New York Rangers. 

We could totally see the same thing happen with Daws. Markstrom has already been hurt once this season. Who is to say that it won’t happen again, and Daws will get his shot?

Unfortunately, it sounds like he’s not interested in waiting for that opportunity. Reports out of Russia claim there’s interest in Daws heading there sooner rather than later. 

The New Jersey Devils can't lose Nico Daws for nothing

Hockey News Hub, which has been on the ball for NHL-KHL rumors and news, went on to say that two teams are interested in Daws. One of them is Traktor, which has former NHLers like Josh Leivo and Vitali Kravtsov on the team. 

This would be a disaster for the Devils. Most would say that’s an overreaction, but have you seen what the Devils have behind Daws? Right now, they recently brought Jakub Malek back from the ECHL. He has an .880 save percentage, although he’s played better as of late.

It’s clear he’s not nearly ready for NHL action and really needs to work on his game before he takes the next step. It’s his first year in professional North American hockey, so that should be expected.

After that, it’s Jeremy Brodeur and Tyler Brennan. That’s not NHL talent at this point. 

Obviously, Daws was in trade rumors for most of the season, and the 25-year-old was floated as an option for multiple teams, including the Edmonton Oilers. His NHL value is at least something. Losing him for absolutely nothing would be disastrous and just bad business for Tom Fitzgerald. 

The Devils would have to waive Daws in order to terminate his contract. If he’s playing hardball with the organization and they feel like they are forced to make the decision, just don’t allow it to happen. Tell the player that he’s under contract and being paid, even if he feels like he deserves better (which he does). 

Hockey is a hard game and it’s not always fair, but the Devils can’t keep allowing players to make decisions for them. Daws is important for depth, and if that’s all he is all season, it’s better than getting absolutely nothing for him while he goes to Russia.