Nico Daws’ first preseason look in goal for the Devils gave New Jersey fans a mixed bag, but not much reason to panic.
Daws played two periods at home against the New York Rangers and gave up two goals on 15 shots. It wasn’t a standout night, and it also wasn’t a disaster. By the numbers, he finished at 0.43 goals above expected, a line that suggests the outing sat somewhere between disappointing and manageable.
The goals that got past him looked stoppable, and Daws probably would like both of them back. Still, there’s a bigger picture here: the Rangers were working with largely an AHL lineup, while the Devils were rolling out most of what looks like their opening-night group. Even with that context, this was only Daws’ first preseason game, and the reaction around the team has stayed calm.
With just two preseason games left, there’s a good chance Daws gets more runway before the regular season opens on October 1st.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe made it clear after the game that he isn’t shifting his view of Daws because of one rough patch. “Obviously, you don't like the goals.
He doesn't like the goals, and I don't like the goals. But it was his first preseason game.
During my time here, when he has been in the net, he hasn't made a habit of allowing those goals. He has had a tremendous camp, so that's what I'm focused on.
Even during our morning skate, he was locked in and really good. That's a positive sign for me.”
That’s a strong endorsement, and it also takes some of the heat out of any talk about a real battle with David Rittich. The Devils signed Rittich to a one-year, $1 million deal this offseason after his season with the New York Islanders, and he’s expected to serve as the third-string goalie.
Daws, meanwhile, has put together a promising stretch since the 2024/25 season. In nine games, including seven starts, he has a 5-2 record, a .925 save percentage, a 2.02 goals-against average, 15 goals allowed on 201 shots, and five quality starts. For a 25-year-old still trying to carve out a bigger role, that’s a pretty encouraging base to build on.
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The Devils preseason win over the Rangers gave New Jersey plenty to like, with Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jack Hughes each finding the net in a game that also showed the kind of defensive structure the team wants to carry into the regular season. They controlled most of the shot attempts and spent long stretches dictating the pace, a good sign for a roster trying to sharpen its habits before the games start counting.
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The jersey update perk is the kind of detail that tends to resonate with fans who invest in a name and number, then watch the roster shift around them. NJM also will present the teams post-win locker room speeches social series, along with a new player-focused content series, giving the partnership a footprint that stretches from game nights into the online content the Devils have been leaning into more and more. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Hughes Just Put Pressure On The Wilds Long-Term Plan
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For the Devils, the timing is worth watching from afar. New Jersey has been linked to Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, but cap space remains the obvious obstacle for any major move, and a player like Hughes lingering on the market only adds another variable to the kind of long-view planning every contender has to do. If the Wild cannot get ahead of the situation, the conversation around his future could become one of the more intriguing roster threads in the league. [Read more 🡒]