The New Jersey Devils find themselves at a crucial juncture regarding their goaltending situation heading into the 2025-26 NHL season. With Jacob Markstrom firmly entrenched as the starting netminder, the focus shifts to solidifying the backup role. All signs point towards Nico Daws being ready to assume that responsibility on a full-time basis.
Daws' journey to this point has been marked by both promise and adversity. Drafted by the Devils in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Daws has shown flashes of brilliance at the NHL level, interspersed with periods of adjustment and injury setbacks. He made his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season, during a particularly challenging time for the Devils when injuries ravaged their goaltending ranks. While his overall numbers that season weren't stellar (.893 save percentage), he demonstrated poise and potential, offering glimpses of what he could become with further development.
The 2024-25 season provided further evidence of Daws' readiness for a more prominent role. In a limited sample size of six appearances, Daws posted an impressive 3-1-0 record, accompanied by a stellar 1.60 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. These numbers, while reflective of a small number of games, underscored his ability to perform effectively at the highest level when given the opportunity. Notably, he also recorded his first NHL shutout during this period.
However, Daws' path hasn't been without its challenges. His AHL statistics with the Utica Comets during the 2024-25 season were less impressive, with a 3.16 GAA and a .893 save percentage. Despite these numbers, it's important to consider the context. The Comets struggled as a team, which invariably impacted Daws' statistics. Furthermore, some reports suggest that Daws' struggles in the AHL might be related to the team in front of him, and his NHL numbers suggest he is capable at the top level.
Several factors support the argument for Daws becoming the full-time backup in 2025-26. Firstly, the Devils demonstrated their faith in him by re-signing him to a two-year contract. The structure of this contract speaks volumes: a two-way deal for the 2024-25 season followed by a one-way deal for 2025-26. The one-way contract signifies the Devils' belief that Daws will be an NHL roster player in 2025-26, regardless of where he plays. Secondly, the departure of Akira Schmid to the Vegas Golden Knights further solidifies Daws' position within the organization's goaltending hierarchy. Thirdly, Jake Allen, who served as Markstrom's backup in 2024-25, is a pending unrestricted free agent. While Allen has expressed a desire to remain with the Devils, his potential contract demands might not align with the team's overall cap management strategy.
Giving Daws the full-time backup role makes sense for the Devils from both a performance and financial perspective. Daws is on a team-friendly one-way contract with an AAV of $850,000 for the 2025-26 season. This provides the Devils with financial flexibility to address other areas of need within the roster. More importantly, it allows Daws to gain valuable NHL experience, backing up an established veteran like Markstrom. This experience will be crucial for his long-term development and could potentially position him as the team's future starting goaltender.
Of course, entrusting Daws with the backup role also carries some risk. He will need to demonstrate consistency and prove that his strong performances in limited NHL appearances can translate into sustained success over a larger sample size. However, the potential rewards outweigh the risks. Daws possesses the talent, work ethic, and contract situation that makes him the ideal candidate to be the Devils' full-time backup goaltender in the 2025-26 season.
