Nico Daws
Nicolas Daws | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 22, 2000 Germany |
| Occupation | Ice hockey goaltender |
| Known for | Playing for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL |
Nicolas Daws (born December 22, 2000) is a professional ice hockey goaltender holding dual German–Canadian nationality, currently playing for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Devils as the 84th overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Prior to the 2019 NHL entry draft, Daws was the backup goaltender for the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), participating in 34 games across two seasons. He topped the OHL charts in goals against average and save percentage, posting figures of 2.06 and .939 respectively, and contributed to winning an OHL championship. Despite this performance, he was not drafted in 2019.
During the 2019–20 campaign, Daws appeared in 38 games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the league in save percentage once again and earned accolades including first team all-star and goaltender of the year. Subsequently, in October 2020, he was selected 84th overall by New Jersey.
On November 13, 2020, Daws signed a one-year deal with ERC Ingolstadt competing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Over 10 games in the 2020–21 season, he achieved four victories, recorded one shutout, and maintained a goals-against average of 2.90.
Daws agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Devils on May 5, 2021. He commenced the 2021–22 season playing for New Jersey’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. After being recalled on October 21, he made his NHL debut two days later, securing a 2–1 overtime triumph against the Buffalo Sabres.
Throughout the 2022–23 season, Daws exclusively represented Utica and earned selection to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game. Ahead of the 2023–24 campaign, he underwent surgery on his acetabular labrum, causing him to miss the start of that season. Upon activation from injured reserve on December 8, 2023, he returned with a strong performance featuring 31 saves during a 4–1 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders. His NHL season debut followed on December 29, where he made 25 saves in a 6–2 win against the Ottawa Senators.
On July 30, 2024, Daws secured a two-year contract extension worth $1.625 million total, with an average annual value of $812,500. During that season, he appeared in four NHL games achieving three wins and posting a .939 save percentage; meanwhile, with Utica he recorded 11 wins and maintained a .893 save percentage over 34 contests.
On October 5, 2025, Daws was placed on waivers for the first time in his career. After clearing waivers on October 6, he was reassigned to Utica.
International play
Although born in Germany, Daws competes internationally for Canada. His only junior international tournament was at the 2020 World Junior Championships, where he participated in parts of two games as part of Canada’s gold medal-winning squad.
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 NHL regular season, with New Jersey missing out on the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Daws accepted an invitation to make his senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship representing Canada.
Personal life
Daws was born in Germany and holds citizenship in both Germany and Canada. His mother is German while his father is Canadian.
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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Utica Comets | AHL | 34 | 11 | 20 | 2 | 1,956 | 103 | 1 | 3.16 | .893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2024–25 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 263 | 7 | 0 | 1.60 | .939 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| DEL totals | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 580 | 28 | 1 | 2.90 | .898 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 52 | 22 | 23 | 1 | 2,678 | 133 | 0 | 2.98 | .898 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Canada | WJC | Template:Gold1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 8 | 0 | 5.83 | .840 | ||||
| 2024 | Canada | WC | Fourth place | 1 | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| OHL | |
| First Team All-Star Selection | 2020 |
| Top Goaltender | 2020 |
| AHL | |
| Participant in AHL All-Star Game | 2023 |