For Nico Daws, the wait has been long enough that the opening in front of him feels different now.
After five years of moving through the ups and downs, time in Utica, NHL call-ups and the usual uncertainty that shadows a young goaltender, he finally has a path that looks real. General manager Sunny Mehta’s decision to move on from veteran Jacob Markstrom while keeping Jake Allen has turned Daws’ long pursuit from a distant hope into a legitimate opportunity.
“It does feel like there's more of an opportunity for me than previous years, which is exciting,” Daws said. “It's something that all I've ever really wanted is a chance to come in and compete for a spot.”
That chance still has to be won. Daws knows he isn’t walking into camp with anything locked up, and he’ll still have to battle two veterans, Allen and David Rittich, for a place.
“I've never wanted to come in and have my name penciled into the lineup,” Daws said. “Obviously, I know I have to work for it.”
That attitude is part of what makes this moment stand out. Daws has spent years building toward it, leaning on the habits and structure that helped him get through the tougher stretches.
“It's just being regimented and having a routine that you can fall back to,” he said. “So, when you're not feeling the best, I mean, that's what it's all about, is being good when you're not at your best.”
He says he’s in a good place now.
“I feel very confident in my game,” he added. “I feel like my game is pretty well rounded right now, and I feel like I am ready for this level and for what it takes.”
That confidence, though, isn’t the kind that assumes anything. It’s the kind that comes from believing he can handle the job if he earns it.
“Just (have) confidence that I belong at this level and I can play and I can be good at this level,” he said. “It's one thing getting into the NHL and it's another thing staying here. that'll be the challenge, is crack the roster first and then be good at this level.”
The last few seasons haven’t always been smooth. Daws has been through stretches where the results didn’t come and the grind felt heavier than the progress.
He doesn’t pretend otherwise. Still, he never lost sight of why he kept pushing.
“Sometimes it gets hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Daws said. “You get caught up in the little things.”
His goalie coach in Utica, Brian Eklund, helped keep him grounded through all of it. Eklund had seen the highs and the lows, and reminded him to stay focused on the bigger picture and the work that was leading somewhere.
“It's important,” he said. “You've got to remember the bigger picture. Like, yeah, sure, it may suck right now… Just remember what you're working towards, and where you came from.”
Now that next step is finally within view, and Daws says he plans to keep it simple. Stop the puck.
Stay calm. Enjoy the game.
“You're always working to stay ready because you never know what's going to happen, especially in the goalie position,” Daws said.
“But yeah, now if there is a spot open, I want to go. I don't want to dip my toe in, and I don't want to sit around and hope. I want to go and grab it.”
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