The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team re-signed goaltender Nico Daws to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1,100,000. The contract details are as follows: 2026-27: $975,000 & 2027-28: $1,225,000. The announcement was made by General Manager Sunny Mehta.
Daws, 25, has played parts of the last five seasons with the Devils, sharing time between the NHL and AHL levels with the Utica Comets. Last year, the 6’4”, 205lbs. netminder played 44 games with Utica (17-16-11, 2.78 goals-against average, .892 save percentage, 2 shutouts) and three games with New Jersey (2-1-0, 2.62 GAA, .908 save%).
On Feb. 17, 2024, Daws led New Jersey to its first NHL outdoor game win in a 6-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium. Daws set a new NHL record, making 45 saves on 48 shots, for the most saves by a goaltender in an NHL outdoor game. The 48 shots against were also the most all-time an NHL netminder faced in an outdoor game.
Born on Dec. 22, 2000, Daws made his NHL debut on Oct. 23, 2021, making 24 saves on 25 shots in a 2-1 win vs. Buffalo and became the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win their NHL debut
In 55 career NHL games, Daws has posted a 24-24-1 with a 2.96 goals-against average and .898 save percentage with one shutout.
He has earned a 60-60-21 career record in the AHL, with a 2.82 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 142 career regular-season games. Daws was named a 2022-23 AHL All-Star for the North Division and has posted a 5-5 career record in the Calder Cup Playoffs with one shutout.
New Jersey selected Daws in the third round, 84th overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has represented Canada on the international stage and won gold with Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) 2020 World Junior Championship (WJC). He also appeared in one game for Canada at the IIHF’s 2024 World Championship.
