Nico Daws & Devils Getting Closer to New Contract

Goaltender Nico Daws is one of three restricted free agents the New Jersey Devils need to sign.

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils have three restricted free agents who still require contracts for the 2024-25 season, including Nico Daws, Nolan Foote, and Dawson Mercer.

All three were tendered qualifying offers on June 30, along with Adam Beckman and Santeri Hatakka, who both recently signed one-year contracts.

On Thursday, The Hockey News checked in with Daws' agent, Paul Capizzano of Quartexx Management, who shared that the two parties remain in negotiations and are getting closer to a resolution.

Daws made his NHL debut with the Devils on Oct. 23, 2021, against the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2021-22 season, the goaltender appeared in 25 games and earned 10 victories.

He spent the 2022-23 campaign in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets, where he played 33 games. Daws finished the season with a .904 save percentage and a 2.70 goals-against average.

The 23-year-old spent time in New Jersey the following season, starting 20 games for the Devils and earning nine wins.

In Daws' brief time with the Devils, he has witnessed plenty of turnover in New Jersey's crease. Jonathan Bernier, Mackenzie Blackwood, Jon Gillies, Andrew Hammond, Scott Wedgewood, Akira Schmid, Vitek Vanecek, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Jake Allen have all rotated in and out of the net since that late October game against the Sabres.

In March, Daws spoke to The Hockey News about his organization's goaltending moves around the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, specifically the acquisitions of Kahkonen and Allen and the departure of Vanecek.

"It is different. It is a bit of a whirlwind. Just guys going everywhere," he said. "Obviously, I will miss (Vanecek). He was an awesome guy to me. He made me really comfortable here. Me and (Schmid) go way back. Now, it is two new guys, and I get to watch them and learn from them. It is pretty cool."

In June, the Devils acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames to be the club's starter for the 2024-25 season. If everything goes according to plan, Daws will start in the AHL, where he can continue to develop, while Allen serves as Markstrom's backup in New Jersey. 

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