The New Jersey Devils gave Nico Daws a shot while Jacob Markstrom was out with an injury. Daws appeared in five NHL games over the past month, including three starts, in which he was solid.
With Markstrom returning, the Devils sent Daws back to the AHL. But he can hold his head high knowing he made a statement. He proved that he is ready for the next step in his career. Daws deserves to be the Devils’ number two goaltender in the 2025-26 season.
Nico Daws is ready to spend a full season in the NHL
Although it was a small sample size, Daws played exceptionally well during his latest stint in the NHL. The 24-year-old went 3-0 with a 0.88 GAA and a .966 SV%. He was sharp and steady, even earning his first NHL shutout.
Stats like these make us wish Daws could’ve had a longer opportunity this time around. But with Jake Allen on the roster, the Devils didn’t have much choice in sending him back down. Daws did his job, though.
In the absence of Markstrom, Daws, and Jake Allen really stepped up. They didn’t just tread water. They regularly gave the team the best chance to win despite being down one of the league’s top goaltenders.
While it once seemed Daws was primed to be the Devils’ future in net, things have been murky for awhile. He’s had some difficulty staying healthy, and his numbers have not been great in the AHL the past two years. In 23 games played with Utica this season, he’s 6-15-1 with a 3.37 GAA and an .891 SV%. But much of that has to do with the team in front of him. The Comets are fourteenth out of fifteen teams in the Eastern Conference.
Daws has had other opportunities in the NHL in 2021-22 and 2023-24, and the results have been a mixed bag. Last season, he showed flashes of brilliance, including the Stadium Series in front of over 70,000 fans. He made 45 saves, which is the record for most saves at an outdoor game. But Daws was called upon a lot, and it seemed a lack of load management led to burnout. He fizzled out and struggled. But Daws showed potential for a bright future.
The Devils don’t need to re-sign Allen this summer, nor do they need to look elsewhere for a backup goaltender answer for 2025-26. They already have the answer, and he’s in Utica. This is what the Devils have been hoping for, which is why he has a two-way contract this season and a one-way next season. Daws is ready to be in the NHL full-time next year to back up Markstrom. Once he has a full season in the NHL, Daws will be able to show whether or not he’s a long-term answer as a backup goalie.