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Devils re-sign goalie Nico Daws to a two-year contract
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 1, 4:14 PM EDT

Devils re-sign goalie Nico Daws to a two-year contract

New Jersey keeps a restricted free agent goaltender in-house, agreeing to a two-year deal valued at an average annual value of $1.1 million.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The New Jersey Devils have re-signed goaltender Nico Daws to a two-year contract, the team announced in a transaction report published Wednesday. Financial terms released with the agreement show an average annual value of $1,100,000, with payments of $975,000 for 2026-27 and $1,225,000 for 2027-28.

Daws entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, and the Devils moved first by issuing a qualifying offer on June 29. Re-signing him after that step means New Jersey maintained their rights and reached an agreement without requiring a longer process for a restricted free agent tender.

From a roster-building standpoint, keeping Daws gives the Devils additional stability in their goaltending group heading into the next two seasons. Even when a team has a clear starter, the workload in an 82-game NHL schedule makes depth goaltending a continuing priority, because injuries, form, and matchup demands can quickly change how often a second or third option appears.

For Daws, the agreement provides a defined runway to build on his role in New Jersey’s system while giving the organization time to evaluate how they want their goaltending rotation to look over the 2026-27 season and beyond. The increase from the first year salary figure to the second year reflects that New Jersey was comfortable moving from a qualifying offer framework to a multi-year deal.

The Devils’ next steps will still depend on how their goaltending situation plays out as training camps approach and the regular season gets underway. A two-year commitment does not guarantee a static pecking order, but it does report that New Jersey sees value in having Daws as part of the long-term plan.

What to watch next is how the Devils structure their goaltending usage once the games begin. If Daws continues to develop within the team’s approach, the organization could use the two-year contract as a foundation for a more predictable depth role, or potentially to increase his responsibility depending on performance.

Why It Matters

  • Depth matters in the NHL, and a two-year contract helps stabilize the Devils’ goaltending planning for the next two seasons.
  • Keeping Daws in-house reduces uncertainty at the backup and development positions as the team prepares for 2026-27.
  • The pay structure suggests New Jersey was prepared to move beyond a one-year tender and commit to Daws’ role within its system.
  • How much Daws plays could influence the Devils’ internal goaltending pecking order as camp and the season approach.

Sources

Key Facts

  • The New Jersey Devils re-signed goaltender Nico Daws to a two-year contract.
  • The contract’s average annual value is $1,100,000.
  • Reported salary terms are $975,000 for 2026-27 and $1,225,000 for 2027-28.
  • Daws was a restricted free agent and received a qualifying offer from the Devils on June 29.
  • The deal keeps Daws under contract for two seasons with New Jersey.