Nico Daws

Nico Daws
Daws with the Utica Comets in 2022
Born (2000-12-22) December 22, 2000 (age 24)
Munich, Germany
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Utica Comets (AHL)
ERC Ingolstadt
National team  Canada
NHL draft 84th overall, 2020
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2020–present

Nicolas Daws (born December 22, 2000) is a German–Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 84th overall by the Devils in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

In the two seasons leading up to the 2019 NHL entry draft, Daws' first year of draft eligibility, he was the backup goaltender for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Appearing in just 34 games over those two years, Daws led the OHL in goals against average and save percentage with a 2.06 and .939, respectively. Despite his impressive stat line and an OHL championship, he was not selected in the 2019 draft.[1]

In the 2019–20 season, Daws appeared in 38 games, more than the previous two seasons combined despite the COVID-19 pandemic ending the season prematurely. Daws led the league in save percentage, and was named first team all-star and goaltender of the year.[2] In October 2020, he was selected 84th overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils.[3]

On November 13, 2020, Daws signed a one-year contract with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[4] In 10 games with Ingolstadt during the 2020–21 season, Daws posted four wins, one shutout, and a 2.90 goals against average.[5]

On May 5, 2021, Daws signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils.[5] Daws started the 2021–22 season with the Utica Comets of American Hockey League (AHL), the AHL affiliate of the Devils.[6] He was recalled by the Devils on October 21,[7] and made his NHL debut on October 23, in a 2–1 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres.[8]

In the 2022–23 season, playing exclusively for Utica, Daws was named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game.[9]

In the off-season before the 2023–24 season, Daws underwent acetabular labrum surgery.[10] After missing the beginning of the season, he was activated from non-roster injured reserve and assigned to Utica on December 8, 2023. In his season debut against the Bridgeport Islanders that night, Daws made 31 saves en route to a 4–1 victory.[11] He made his NHL season debut on December 29, making 25 saves on 27 shots in a 6–2 win over the Ottawa Senators.[12]

On July 30, 2024, the Devils re-signed Daws to a two-year, $1.625 million contract extension with an average annual value of $812,500.[13]

International play

Despite his German birth, Daws represents Canada internationally. His lone junior-level tournament appearance came at the 2020 World Junior Championships, where he played in parts of two games for the gold medal-winning Canadian team.[2]

Following the 2023–24 NHL regular season and with the Devils failing to qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Daws accepted an invitation to make his senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.[14]

Personal life

Born in Germany, Daws is also a citizen of Canada. His mother is German and his father Canadian.[4][15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2017–18 Guelph Storm OHL 14 1 7 2 622 42 0 4.06 .880 2 0 0 40 4 0 6.00 .826
2018–19 Guelph Storm OHL 20 10 5 3 1,126 61 1 3.25 .893 2 0 0 38 3 0 4.81 .800
2019–20 Guelph Storm OHL 38 23 8 6 2,254 93 5 2.48 .924 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 10 4 6 0 580 28 1 2.90 .898 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 21 14 4 2 1,205 51 1 2.54 .916 4 2 2 240 12 0 3.01 .891
2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 25 10 11 1 1,272 66 0 3.11 .893 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 33 16 14 3 1,953 88 2 2.70 .904 6 3 3 373 16 1 2.57 .920
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 10 2 6 2 581 28 0 2.89 .890 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 21 9 11 0 1,145 60 0 3.15 .894 — — — — — — — —
DEL totals 10 4 6 0 580 28 1 2.90 .898 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 46 19 22 1 2,417 126 0 3.13 .894 — — — — — — — —
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2020 Czech Republic

International

Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2020 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2 1 1 0 82 8 0 5.83 .840
2024 Canada WC 4th 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .833
Junior totals 2 1 1 0 82 8 0 5.83 .840
Senior totals 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .833

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
OHL
First Team All-Star 2020 [2]
Goaltender of the Year 2020
AHL
AHL All-Star Game 2023 [9]

References

  1. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (December 11, 2019). "Undrafted Nico Daws trying to force way into Canada's world junior crease". CBC. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Franken, Brian (October 7, 2020). "2020 NHL Draft: Devils Picked Goaltender Nicolas Daws at 84th Overall in the 3rd Round". All About The Jersey. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "NHL Draft 2020: Devils nab Nico Daws in 3rd round | Top-ranked North American goalie by Central Scouting". nj. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "ERC verpflichtet U20-Weltmeister". erc-ingolstadt.de (in German). November 13, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "RELEASE: Devils Sign Daws to Three-Year ELC". NHL.com. May 5, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Kasan, Sam (October 7, 2021). "Devils Cut Eight from Training Camp Roster". NHL.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  7. ^ Kasan, Sam (October 21, 2021). "Nico Daws Recalled from Utica". NHL.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Pavel Zacha scores in OT to lift Devils past Sabres, 2-1". ESPN. October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "NICO DAWS NAMED 2023 AHL ALL-STAR | Utica Comets Official Website". uticacomets.com. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Birnell, Ben (June 10, 2023). "Utica Comets' Nico Daws out for extended period after surgery". Rome Sentinel. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Jones, Steve (December 8, 2023). "Nico Daws makes 31 saves as Comets win in his season debut". Rome Sentinel. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Baird, Jackson (December 29, 2023). "Nico Daws, Jesper Bratt Lead Devils to Dominant 6-2 Win Over Ottawa Senators". allaboutthejersey.com. SBNation. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Daws Inks to 2-Year Deal with Devils". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Bedard, Celebrini highlight Canada's roster at the World Championship". TSN. May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "Storm grad, OHL Goaltender of the Year Nico Daws signs entry-level NHL contract with Devils". ontariohockeyleague.com. May 5, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.