Moment Meets Opportunity for Daws | FEATURE

For five years, all Nico Daws has waited for was to see just the smallest bit of light, a glimpse through a crack that identifies there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

He’s waited through the ups and downs. Waited through time in Utica. Waited through NHL call-ups, learning experiences and the uncertainty that comes with being a young goaltender trying to establish himself.

Most of all, he’s waited for a real chance.

After general manager Sunny Mehta made the decision to move on from veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom and retain Jake Allen, that chance is now more than a chance, it’s become a real possibility.

“It does feel like there's more of an opportunity for me than previous years, which is exciting,” Daws said. “It's something that all I've ever really wanted is a chance to come in and compete for a spot.”

It hasn’t always been that way. There had always been something, or someone blocking that sliver of light.

“It's always tough coming into camp and there's goalies ahead of you,” shared Daws, “and you try to make a push, but realistically, it's hard to crack the roster like that. But with an opening, obviously, yeah, just had a really good summer and working as hard as I can and hope to stay here.”

Let’s be clear, Daws isn't looking for anything to be handed to him. He knows an NHL job still has to be earned. He’ll still have to compete at camp with two veterans in Jake Allen and David Rittich.

“I've never wanted to come in and have my name penciled into the lineup,” Daws said. “Obviously, I know I have to work for it.”

And that is exactly what makes this camp different.

Daws has spent the last five years working toward this moment, learning at every stop and trying to replicate the standard required at the NHL level whenever he was back in Utica.

“It's just being regimented and having a routine that you can fall back to,” he said. “So, when you're not feeling the best, I mean, that's what it's all about, is being good when you're not at your best.”

“I feel very confident in my game,” he added. “I feel like my game is pretty well rounded right now, and I feel like I am ready for this level and for what it takes.”

There is a difference, too, in the way Daws talks about his game now.

Confidence doesn't mean assuming the job is his. It means believing he can handle the job if he earns it.

“Just (have) confidence that I belong at this level and I can play and I can be good at this level,” he said. “It's one thing getting into the NHL and it's another thing staying here. that'll be the challenge, is crack the roster first and then be good at this level.”

He has experienced enough of the NHL to understand what it takes, while his time in Utica has given him the opportunity to work through the harder stretches of development.

There were plenty of those.

Daws doesn't sugarcoat the past couple of seasons. There were times when the results weren't there, when the struggles became difficult to see beyond.

But he never lost the love for hockey.

“Sometimes it gets hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Daws said. “You get caught up in the little things.”

His longtime goalie coach in Utica, Brian Eklund, helped him keep perspective.

Eklund had seen Daws at his best and his worst and reminded him not to lose sight of the bigger picture, the work being done for whatever comes next.

That next step has always been the NHL.

And now, for the first time in a while, Daws can actually see it.

“It's important,” he said. “You've got to remember the bigger picture. Like, yeah, sure, it may suck right now… Just remember what you're working towards, and where you came from.”

Now he gets to find out what all that work can lead to.

Daws doesn't plan on letting that change how he approaches it.

At the end of the day, he said, the job is simple: stop the puck, keep things simple and have fun playing hockey.

Because after spending five years preparing for the opportunity, he doesn't want to spend this one overthinking it.

He wants to seize it.

“You're always working to stay ready because you never know what's going to happen, especially in the goalie position,” Daws said.

“But yeah, now if there is a spot open, I want to go. I don't want to dip my toe in, and I don't want to sit around and hope. I want to go and grab it.”